Thousands Run in "For the Sons" Race Honoring Druze Fallen

Approximately 20,000 participants gathered on Friday in the Lower Galilee's Karni Hittin area, near the Golani Interchange, for the 14th annual "For the Druze Sons" race. The event commemorates fallen members of the Druze community who served and died in Israel's conflicts, with this year's race also honoring current IDF soldiers, reservists, and security forces.

The race, initiated by retired Brigadier General Amal Asaad, featured 5k and 10k runs, a 25k cycling race, 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 (MDA), and fire services.

The event was organized by the "For the Sons" association, founded by Asaad, in cooperation with the IDF, the Ministry of Defense, Friends of the IDF (FIDF), the Association for the Soldier, and local authorities. Notable attendees included the spiritual leader of the Druze community, Sheikh Muafak Tarif, Police Commissioner Danny Levi, former Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon, former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot, Druze mayors, and senior officers.

The race precedes the completion of the "For the Sons Trail," a 220-kilometer memorial path connecting Druze villages in the Carmel and Galilee regions. This trail, a joint project with the Jewish National Fund (JNF) and the "For the Druze Sons" association, is dedicated to the memory of fallen Druze soldiers and aims to promote tourism and awareness of Druze heritage.

Brigadier General (Res.) Amal Asaad stated, "The alliance between 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 "much more than a sporting event; it is a meeting of memory, appreciation, and hope," emphasizing that the connection is built on shared destiny, mutual responsibility, and belief in a common future.