The ‘preservation of the brethren’ principle among Druze Intergenerational Groups in Israel

Abstract

ABSTRACT This article examined whether Israel’s Druze society has fundamentally changed, as the literature on intergenerational conflicts suggests. Specifically, it explored the association between people’s attitudes towards the principle of ‘preservation of the brethren’ (Hifz al-Ikhwan) and (1) intergenerational groups and (2) community characteristics – an under-researched topic reflecting social solidarity. To this end, it constructed a new questionnaire targeting a sample of adult Druze from four communities. The statistical analysis did not show intergenerational conflict concerning people’s readiness to uphold this principle, demonstrating the lack of a fundamental societal change. This finding has practical implications for government institutions and community leaders striving to preserve the Druze community.