Beyond the Uniform: Druze Resistance and the Colonial Politics of Division

Written By Nadia Naser

Book Review: Druze Studies Journal, 2.

p. 13 in English & p.32 in Arabic

When I lived in the West Bank, I frequently experienced the harsh treatment of Druze soldiers at checkpoints. I also used to hear people remark that “the soldier was mean and spiteful, a Druze.” Released Palestinian prisoners also continue to speak about the brutality of Druze guards in Israeli prisons. There is also a generalized misconception of Druze as a monolithic sect that chose to resort to taqiyya, dissimulation, as a survival strategy in the face of persecution—even positive exceptions, such as Samih Al Qasem, the (Druze) Palestinian poet of resistance.

Nadia Naser

I am a Senior lecturer in Palestine Studies, European Centre for Palestine Studies- Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies, University of Exeter. Prior to this, I was an Assistant Professor, Birzeit University, Department of Philosophy and Cultural Studies and the MA program in Arab Contemporary Studies. I hold a PhD in Middle East Studies form the University of Exeter. I has published books, chapters in books and academic article.

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