Jews and Israelis Show Solidarity with Druze Restaurant in New York

 By Nate Feldman

Last weekend, a rocket from Hezbollah, an Iranian sponsored militant group in Lebanon, killed twelve children from the Druze community in Majdal Al-Shams, a village in the Israeli controlled and hotly contested Golan Heights (Syria claims this territory).  

To show solidarity with the victims, many Israelis and Jews in New York City have visited Gazala's Restaurant, which is owned by Gazala Halabi, an Israeli Druze woman living in the U.S.  According to an article in the NY Jewish Weekly publication, it's the only Druze restaurant in New York.  (See At Gazala's, New York City's only Druze restaurant, Hezbollah attack on children draws solidarity diners by Julia Gergely).  

The Druze are an Arab religious minority spread out between Israel, Lebanon, and Syria.  They are known for showing loyalty to the countries they reside in.  Druze serve in the Israeli army.