Thousands Participate in "For the Druze Sons" Race Honoring Fallen Soldiers

Approximately 20,000 participants gathered on Friday for the 14th annual "For the Druze Sons" race, held in the Lower Galilee region near the Golani Interchange. The event commemorates fallen members of the Druze community who died in Israel's wars and this year also honored IDF soldiers, reservists, and security forces.

The race, initiated by Brigadier General (Res.) Amal Asaad, featured 5k and 10k runs, a 25k bike ride, and a 3k walk. Participants included civilians from across Israel, students, families of the fallen, military personnel, and representatives from the police, Magen David Adom, and fire services.

Notable attendees included the spiritual leader of the Druze community, Sheikh Muafak Tarif, Police Commissioner Danny Levi, former Defense Minister and IDF Chief of Staff Moshe Ya'alon, former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot, Druze local authority heads, and senior officers.

The race precedes the completion of the "For the Druze Sons" trail, a 220-kilometer memorial path connecting Druze villages in the Carmel and Galilee regions. This project, a collaboration between the Jewish National Fund and the "For the Druze Sons" association, is dedicated to the memory of fallen Druze soldiers and aims to foster understanding of Druze heritage among hikers.

Brigadier General (Res.) Amal Asaad stated, "The alliance between the Druze and Jews is not written on paper, it is written in the blood of 451 fallen soldiers and in the lives of thousands of fighters who continue to defend the State of Israel today." He added that the race is "more than a sporting event; it is a meeting of memory, gratitude, and hope," emphasizing the bond built on shared destiny and mutual responsibility.