Annual Race Honors Druze Fallen Soldiers and Strengthens Israeli Unity

The annual national event commemorating fallen Druze soldiers, the "Race for the Druze Sons," will take place on Friday, September 18, 2026, near the Golani Interchange in the Karnei Hittin area. Approximately 20,000 participants are expected to join this large demonstration of support and solidarity with the Druze community, which has lost many of its finest fighters in Israel's wars.

The race is organized by the "For the Sons" association in cooperation with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the Ministry of Defense, the Friends of the IDF in the United States (FIDF), and the Association for the Soldier. The Lower Galilee Regional Council will host the event. This year’s race pays tribute to IDF soldiers, reservists, and security forces who continue to defend Israel amid ongoing challenges.

Produced by Kapa'im, a leading Israeli active lifestyle event company, the race will feature running events of 10 km and 5 km, a 25 km cycling route, and a 3 km popular walking track. Family activity zones will include spinning, ninja courses, traditional Druze food stalls, and a large public festival. Participants will include citizens from all sectors, senior security officials, students, youth, families of fallen soldiers, police, emergency services, and current and former military personnel.

The race precedes the completion of the "For the Sons Trail," a unique national project developed jointly by the Jewish National Fund (KKL) and the "For the Druze Sons" association. This 220 km trail connects Druze villages from the Carmel and Galilee regions, from Daliyat al-Karmel and Usfiya to the Nabi Shu'ayb shrine. The trail aims to tell the story of the Druze community, honor its fallen, and foster living connections among all parts of Israeli society through heritage, nature, and shared experiences.

The trail encourages public visitation to Druze villages to learn about their culture and lifestyle, serving as a living memorial that highlights the community’s values and essential bonds between past and present, land and people, and different cultures.

Brigadier General (res.) Amal Assad, founder of the "For the Sons" project, invited the public to participate, emphasizing the deep bond between Druze and Jewish Israelis forged through shared sacrifice and ongoing defense of the state. He described the race as more than a sporting event, calling it a gathering of memory, appreciation, and hope.

Brigadier General (res.) Liron Donel, CEO of FIDF Israel, highlighted the race as a vibrant expression of shared values, honoring the Druze community’s integral role in Israel’s defense and paying tribute to bereaved families and active soldiers alike.