A record 10,000 runners participated in this year’s annual race on the Druze Son’s Trail in northern Israel, demonstrating their solidarity with the Druze community in Israel.
This is the fifth year of the commemorative project held in memory of Druze soldiers who gave their lives during Israeli security and military operations. The race was co-sponsored by the KKL-JNF and the Druze Son’s Trail Association. This year’s event was staged in the Lavi Forest and at Jethro’s Tomb in the Galilee, and was dedicated to the memories of Sgt. Major Kamil Shanan and Sgt. Major Ha’il Satawi, who were murdered in a terrorist attack at the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.
Participants included the IDF Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Gadi Eizenkot; Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked; Communications Minister Ayoub Kara; former Defense Minister Moshe “Boogie” Ya'alon; the Druze community’s spiritual leader Muwafak Tarif and KKL-JNF World Chairman Danny Atar.
“Every year I’m emotionally moved anew, and this year more than ever to see the thousands that came. Almost double the number that participated last year”, said Brigadier General (ret.) Amal Assad, Chairman of the Druze Son’s Trail Association and the event’s initiator. “We have changed venues; we came to the Lower Galilee and we rejoice in the people, the landscapes and Am Yisrael, who all came to identify with and embrace us.”
The Druze Son’s Trail project was established five years ago with the goal of memorializing those Druze soldiers who feel during Israel’s wars and security operations. The project includes hiking trails that bring walkers through Israel’s Druze villages in the north, and KKL-JNF constructed scenic lookouts and memorial sites that honor their contribution to Israel’s security. The entire trail is 242 km long. The Druze community has lost 421 of its members in Israel’s wars, two of which lost their lives two months ago during a terrorist attack at the Temple Mount - Sgt. Major Ha’il Satawi and Sgt. Major Kamil Shanan.
This moving event began in the early hours of the morning, when hundreds of cyclists arrived at the starting line to begin a 30-kilometer circuit around the site. Afterwards, 10- and 15-kilometer runs were planned, but due to extreme heat, they were shortened to 9 kilometers each. Additional 3- and 5- kilometer runs were also held. A non-competitive walk was held too, and the day ended with an 18-kilometer bike ride. All contestants received a participation medal and trophies were awarded to the top three winners in each race category. First place winners were Avi Dahan (15K men’s), Shahaf Amitai (15K women’s), Nir Eilon (10K men’s), Do’ah Suliman (10K women’s), Yuval Bentel (5K men’s), and Jessica Spector (5K women’s).
The races concluded with a powerful ceremony, with the participation of the bereaved families of the fallen, Knesset members and Druze community leaders.
The families of fallen soldiers were represented by Shakeeb Shanan, who lost his son Sgt. Major Kamil Shanan two months earlier: “Yesterday marked the two month anniversary of the passing of my son Kamil and of my second son, Ha’il Satawi. I want to thank the thousands of people who came out today to pay respects to their memory, to the memory of all fallen Druze and to the memory of all the fallen from Israel’s wars. I’m a proud Israeli, I love my country, I love the Jewish people, not only Israelis, I am proud to be a partner with this People, I want to preserve this partnership and work to make sure it doesn’t fall apart.”
KKL-JNF World Chairman Danny Atar said in his speech at the ceremony: “I am proud to stand as the head of KKL-JNF, a partner to this project, and this is a good opportunity to thank the association’s head for giving the KKL-JNF a chance to be a partner to this very important event. We decided to come and help the association to carry out this amazing enterprise in its entirety and we will stand with you until the end. We will complete the trail as nobly envisioned and construct memorial lookouts at the entrances of all Druze villages.”
Muwafak Tarif, spiritual leader of the Druze community, added: “Today is a special day at Jethro’s Tomb. The Druze Son’s Trail event is full of sadness and longing by families and friends of the fallen, but there is still hope and optimism for a continued, better life in our country. We, the Druze community, feel the love of the Jewish People; we are brothers. Thousands of years ago, a covenant was forged between the Druze and the Jews and nothing symbolizes this bond better than being by Jethro’s Tomb for this memorial event to fallen Druze sons. We, the Druze community, are proud for the right to serve in the IDF and in the security services. We have served and continue to serve with honor. Our bond is solid and strong, not because of mutual interests, but for the sake of honor, protection and living together. The covenant is the State of Israel itself.”
MP Ayelet Shaked said: “I am very happy to be here. The Druze community is one of the cornerstones of the State of Israel. Over 80% of the Druze enlist, and anyone who has fought in the IDF knows the Druze well. My battalion commander, Hussein Amar, was killed in Lebanon. I am very happy to be in the Knesset with Druze members that have advanced important issues. You are our brothers.”
Lieutenant General (ret.), Moshe Ya’alon, former IDF Chief of Staff, said: “When talking about enlisting in the IDF, the Druze community has the highest enlistment rate amongst all other communities in Israel; a symbol and a model. Unfortunately, this is reflected in the losses sustained by the community’s members. I am here to embrace the families of the fallen and the hands of the community’s leaders.”
MP Ayoub Kara said in his speech:“The history of the Druze community and the Jewish people was here long before 1948. I am proud of Amal Assad’s project. I will bring legislation to the government soon to officially recognize the Druze Son’s Trail and arrange for the Israel Land Authority to permanently fund it.”
Danny Atar stated KKL-JNF’s commitment to stand by the Druze community and invest 15 million NIS to develop and improve Jethro’s Tomb, a holy site for Druze. “The Druze Son’s Trail will not only be a memorial, but an arena for joint activities and the building of a shared life.”