Israel Stands with the Druze. That Matters.
As a citizen of both the Chickasaw Nation and the State of Israel, I believe Indigenous people everywhere must stand with each other, especially in moments of crisis. This week, that belief was put to the test.
In Syria, Druze communities were massacred. The Druze are an Indigenous people with ancient ties to this region. They live across Syria, Lebanon, and Israel, and they’ve endured generations of marginalization, discrimination, and violence. This time, something different happened.
Israel responded.
According to The Times of Israel, when news of the massacres broke, Israel’s government immediately convened top-level security discussions. The Israel Defense Forces launched airstrikes in Syria and issued a clear warning: Syrian forces must withdraw from Druze areas or face further consequences. Defense Minister Israel Katz said Israel would not tolerate threats to the Druze and would act decisively to stop them.
This was not just a diplomatic gesture. It was action. It was risk. It was a nation stepping up to protect another Indigenous people across a border. In a world where words often replace responsibility, Israel’s response stands out, and it should not be ignored.
As someone who is both Native American and Israeli, I know how rare this kind of solidarity is. Too often, Indigenous communities are left to fend for themselves. Our pain is ignored. Our history is denied. Our survival is politicized. That is why Israel’s actions this week matter, not just to the Druze, but to all of us who have ever felt erased.
Unfortunately, many people are missing that bigger picture. I’ve seen Native American artists, writers, and activists repost messages that don’t just criticize Israeli policies, they call for dismantling the Jewish state altogether. They label Israel as a settler-colonial project, ignoring the deep and ancient ties the Jewish people have to this land.
As someone whose own people survived colonization, I must speak plainly: those messages are harmful and wrong.
The Jewish people are Indigenous to this land. Their language, religion, and culture were born here. Even after centuries of exile, they never gave up their connection. Zionism is not a colonial movement; it is a movement of return, survival, and identity. That should resonate with any Indigenous person who has fought to preserve their culture and sovereignty.
When people call for the end of Israel, they are not supporting Palestinians; they are erasing another Indigenous people, and erasure is never justice.
What happened to the Druze this week shows why this distinction matters. The threats to Indigenous peoples are not theoretical. They are real, urgent, and deadly. Israel saw that, and it acted. Not because it had to, but because it chose to. Israel sent a message that the Druze matter. Israel sent a message that Indigenous solidarity should mean more than hashtags.
None of this means that Israel is perfect or that criticism isn’t valid. It does mean that we need to think carefully before adopting simplistic slogans or reposting content that denies another people’s right to exist. Indigenous rights are not a zero-sum game. If we believe in them, we must believe in them for everyone, including Druze, Jews, Arabs, Palestinians, and all others.
There is suffering in this region. I live it every day, but peace cannot be built on top of denial. If Native voices abroad want to be part of a just future, they must stop repeating slogans that erase Indigenous truth.
From the Chickasaw Nation to Jerusalem and everywhere in between, I’m asking my fellow Native leaders, creators, and allies to pay attention. Look at what just happened. The Druze were targeted. Israel stepped in. That matters.
Let that be the starting point for deeper reflection, and for real Indigenous solidarity.
