The Zionist Council in Israel held a moving ceremony, at which 40 student scholarships were awarded to IDF reserve soldiers from the Druze community who served in active combat in the ‘Iron Swords’ war. The event also represented an opportunity to express profound appreciation for their significant contribution to Israel’s defense and to bolster the commitment to enhance and further the Druze community’s integration into Israeli society. The scholarship fund project, currently in its second consecutive year, was launched by the Zionist Council in Israel and was made possible this year in conjunction with the Israeli Congress and the Menomadin Foundation. The ceremony was held in the Cultural Center at Rameh. Guests of honor were Deputy Chairman of the World Zionist Organization – Mr. Gil Segal; Director of the Zionist Council in Israel – Adv. Oz Haim; and Chairman of the Druze section of Yad Labanim (Memorial Foundation for fallen IDF soldiers) – Dr. Ramsey Halabi. During the proceedings, which was dedicated in tribute to members of the Druze community who have fallen in defense of the homeland, memorial shields were also presented to the bereaved families.
The World Zionist Organization illuminated the façade of the National Institutions building with the Druze community flag as a sign of solidarity with the residents of Majdal Shams and the Druze community, in the wake of the brutal missile attack by Hizbullah terrorists on 27 July that killed 12 innocent children.
For many years, the Zionist Council in Israel has engaged with Druze society and regards them as an equal partner in the range of activities under its aegis throughout the country. “Reach for the Horizon” is a special leadership empowerment program for women in Shfar’am, in Western Galilee, under the auspices of the Zionist Council in Israel. This program offers a structured course designed to broaden their knowledge about Israel and Israeli society: it includes learning about women leaders and influential women, acts of bravery by women in civil life and in war, as well as providing participants an opportunity to improve their knowledge of Hebrew. The Zionist Council in Israel endeavors to foster the empowerment of, and closer connections with, our Druze brothers and sisters, based on the principles of equality, without distinction of religion, race or gender, and as part of the shared vision of the Covenant of Life contracted between Israel’s Jewish and Druze communities. “Reach for the Horizon” is one of many projects developed for Israel’s Druze sector by the Zionist Council in Israel.
The families of Lt. Col. Salman Habaka, commander of the 53rd battalion of the 188th Armored Brigade, and Lt. Col. Alim Abdallah, deputy commander of the 300th Brigade of the 91st Division – two senior IDF officers from the village of Yanuh-Jat of the Druze community who fell in the “Iron Swords” War – were guests of honor at Mount Herzl and the National Institutions building. Family members visited the National Memorial Hall on Mt. Herzl, where they laid wreaths to commemorate their fallen. The ceremony was followed by a guided tour of the National Institutions building, where they learned about its role in the formation of the State of Israel and met with the Chairman of the World Zionist Organization.
The Zionist Council in Israel, together with the Kerem El Pre-military Academy, held an impressive, special ceremony at Bet Yad Labanim (Commemoration Hall) to the Druze Fallen in Daliyat al-Karmel, at which 25 scholarships were awarded to student members of the Druze community who were called up under emergency orders. The event was dedicated to the memory of members of the Druze community who fell in action in defense of their country. The ceremony was honored by the attendance of members of the families of the fallen, together with Sheikh Moafaq Tarif, Qadi (spiritual leader) of the Druze community, Mr. Yaakov Hagoel, Chairman of the World Zionist Organization, Mr. Gil Segal, Vice-Chairman of the World Zionist Organization, Adv. Oz Haim, Director General of the Zionist Council in Israel, and Dr. Ramzi Halabi, Chairman of Bet Yad Labanim to the Druze Fallen
The Zionist Council in Israel held a particularly exciting tour in Tel Aviv with our Druze brothers. About fifty participants from Rama, Beit Jann, Hurfeish, Julis and Shfar’am toured Ben Gurion’s home and then arrived at the Hostages Square in Tel Aviv where they met with a representative from the hostages’ families and visited the World Zionist Organization’s exhibit.
The participants of the tour raised the Israeli flag and the flag of the Druze community together and prayed for the peace of the hostages and their safe return.
The Zionist Council in Israel continues its activities to strengthen the connection between the Druze and the Jewish populations in order to strengthen the sense of belonging to the State of Israel and Zionism.
In this framework, a scholarship project dedicated to perpetuating the memory of the heroic Druze warriors who fell in the Swords of Iron war in defense of the homeland is being launched.
Druze students who were recently recruited by Order 8 and have been or are still in active reserve service for more than 28 days, are invited to submit an application for a tuition assistance scholarship of 2,500 nis.
For information about the initiative and to submit an application click on the following link: https://bitly.ws/36526
