It is generally believed that among the Arab regimes Syria is the most implacable enemy of Israel. This is a misperception. In fact, the Syrian regime is the only one which actually prefers – both practically and ideologically – that there be a Jewish state in the Middle East, both now and in the future.
Since the 1960s, Syria has been controlled by the Alawites, under the leadership of the Assad family. In order to understand the workings of the Syrian regime, therefore, it is necessary to better understand the Alawites – a highly distinctive non-Muslim sect with no theological or territorial objections to a Jewish state.
The Alawites’ religious beliefs suggest that they are pro-Jewish and anti-Sunni. They believe that two of God’s incarnations were Joshua Ben-Nun, the original Jewish conqueror of the Land of Israel, and the fourth Caliph, Ali, who was murdered by the Sunnis. They believe in reincarnation, regard the Pillars of Islam as purely symbolic, do not fast during Ramadan or make pilgrimage to Mecca, have no mosques or indeed any public worship, celebrate Christmas, Easter and Epiphany, and traditionally wear crosses like Christians. In all of these respects they differ not only from Sunnis but also from Shiites.
Persecuted as heretics by the dominant Muslims, the Alawites took refuge in the mountains of northwestern Syria, where they maintained a precarious autonomy. Following the establishment of the French Mandate after the First World War, the French set up an autonomous region for the Alawites in their homeland. The Alawites petitioned the French for an independent state, but their petitions were rejected and the territory was added to the Sunni-dominated state of Syria. The Alawites attempted to rebel against the Sunnis in 1946 and again in 1952, but they were put down. Undaunted, they established footholds in the officers’ corps of the Syrian army and the Ba’ath Party. They took advantage of the confusion following the collapse of the United Arab Republic to seize power in the 1960s, and they have controlled Syria ever since...
There's more there from Prof. John Myhill.
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4 comments:
As George Orwell once said, some things are so stupid only an intellectual can believe them
So what? The Iranians aren't Arabs, don't have a border with Israel and didn't even send an army against the newly-declared Jewish State in 1948 (which Iraq did, despite not bordering with Israel). That means there should be no hostility between Iran and Israel, right?
In reality, Iran is Israel's biggest external threat right now, despite all the practical reasons why those two countries should be at the very least on neutral terms.
In reality, Assad's Alawite heterodoxy must take a back seat to considerations such as personal honor (the loss of the Golan Heights), political survival (a Sunni Muslim public that would roast him if he became friendly to Israel) and foreign policy preferences (Syria's ties to Iran).
Hey Dear Mr. Medad
Actually what you said about alawite to describe their identiy seems to me just an ignorance delusions.
I dont know if you want to declare for radicals that alawite is infidel and just a sect to burn and to kill as other stupids do.
But i dont want to believe this possibilty of your aim.Maybe its why personally i love israelis because both jews and alevites have been sharing downtrodden status and still sharing the same thing.They have been humiliating for their religion was not imperialist.
Let me tell you a bit about Anatolian Alevite i would like to tell about alawites but i have never talked about syrian alawite with an alawi so i have no knowledge on their situation.
It may take several days to know their history and rituals.It is because Alevite is not just a religion you can meet a person who describe himself or herself as alevite and also atheist,another one can say i am just an alevite at all next will say muslim alevite or another one can say i am no longer alevi who converted to christianity or you can see agnostic alevi but at the end these individuals still remains alevi and describe themselves as alevite.Being Alevite does not require religious practise.
Remainig alevite all the way shows supporting each other because everyone knows you alevite, infidel, danger, poor or just a thing to burn.You have to secure your human rights together.Otherwise they will kill or burn you.
Alevite's religion house called Cemevi(house of union) which is illegal and is not accepted by government.
Cem is a ritual practise hold in Cemevis by Alevi priest called Dede and other alevite individuals. together.Cem has lots of esoteric symbols and practises are not possible by an ignorance or who is not Alevi.Because Alevite symbols and rituals has a long historical roots.Semah is a ritual dance in Alevite that is hold in Cemevis.We do not pray neither like christians nor muslims.Alevite fastening 7 days some fastening 3 days during February this fastening for Hızır(Elijah in biblical history) at the end of fastening Alevites making a bread and eating bread.Because hızır has a meaning as Saver for Alevites.(Hizir is a holy figure in Alevism which is a belief in Anatolia. He helps and saves Alevite people when they are in trouble.They call Hizir,saying come to help us!Is it an eastern holiday ceremony?I dont think so.
Massacres, pogroms, being forced to convert by imperialist religions may take several days to explain.For instance if one can be mentioned it d be Dersim Massacre in modern Turkey during 1937-39 Alevites in Dersim City has massacred by government forces where 15.000 Alevite have been killed.Lots of daughters,childs are send to post modern slavery for elitist turks houses and forced to pray like a muslim.
Lots of childs are grow up as non alevi and later they found their brother and sister but it was too late they were two different people, slave ones raised as muslim and survivor ones remained alevi they found their brothers and sisters as strangers and both them are the way different each other.Slave alevis became a human and the rest of alevis remained an animal to burn.
When i was getting my hair cut in a barber while cutting barber and his friend was talking about jewish families.He was saying that before a marriage in judaism jewish dad have to have sex with his daughter first and then daughter can be let marry his husbad candidate.Then i realised how downtrodden status we have been shared together.Because if you know turkish look up on web for ignorance rumors on Alevite dad and his daughter before marriage.
If you really want to learn Alevite you can wellcome to Turkey and the Alevite will embrace you and show you their rituals.Then you can search those rituals meaning and compare and see what Alevite was.
You dont have to ask them who you are, just attend a Alevite Cem you can learn about them.
I will translate a ritual poem for you which is belong to Alevi Poet Pir Sultan lived in Sivas in 16 century.
The King's crying(i dont know who he is)
Is in a bird called Crane
His crook is in Nile
His cardigan is at a Dervish
Nile river is turned into Umman sea
My face has turned yellow and taken on the hue of death
His view stayed in a lion
And even his fighting going on in a ram
Where everyone have gone, Pir Sultan?(asking himself)
Our native swinging on a tree
Somewhere far away from Yemen
The horse still in a war.
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