Dozens of Syrian Druze clerics visited Israel for a pilgrimage to a holy site on 14 March, sparking controversy and criticism from residents of southern Syria – who rejected the trip as an Israeli attempt to “sow division” and “exploit” the religious minority.

This was the first time in five decades such a trip had been made.

The 60 Druze scholars were invited by the spiritual leader of Israel’s Druze community, Muwaffaq Tarif, to visit the tomb of Shuaib, a prophet in the Islamic religion and the most revered figure in the Druze faith.

Video footage showed Israeli buses transporting the clerics from Quneitra and the countryside of Damascus to the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, entering through the Majdal Shams crossing – from which they were set to head to the tomb located in the lower Galilee.

They will also take part in the opening of a Druze religious headquarters in the village of Al-Buqeia in the Galilee.

Israeli military forces accompanied the buses and imposed tight security measures on the clerics, preventing them from using their mobile phones and communicating with journalists.

Israel’s Druze and Circassian Movement for Democracy and Equality referred to the visit as a “historic and meaningful moment” and “the beginning of a new chapter in the country’s history with its neighbor.”

Yet it was met with fierce condemnation from Druze residents of southern Syria – where Israel has established a widespread occupation since the fall of the former Syrian government.

“Israel is exploiting a religious visit to sow division among the Druze community, seeking to use them as a defensive line to achieve its expansionist interests,” residents of Hader said in a statement, according to Al Mayadeen.

Israel has claimed it wishes to support the Druze minority in Syria since establishing its occupation across the country’s south.

Following clashes between Syrian government forces and Druze militias in the southern city of Jaramana, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “We will not allow Syria’s extremist terrorist regime to harm Druze. If the regime hits Druze – it will be hurt by us.”

Last month, Netanyahu demanded the “complete demilitarization of southern Syria.” Tel Aviv has vowed an indefinite occupation in Syria.