Israelis and Druze coming together in good times and bad

Summer and the Jerusalem streets are hot during the day.

On weekdays, the Municipality tempts tourists with price cuts and deals. Residents try their best to get away from the city. Now, with the skies opening, Cyprus and Azerbaijan are two popular destinations this summer. However, because of recent news, the Druze and their relationship to Israel have become important to share.

It was quite a beautiful sight. Druze women from the north came by the hundreds in October 2010. Wearing their white head coverings to participate in the Komen Race for the Cure. Walking from Gan Sacher, Sacher Park, toward the Old City walls under white umbrellas to rest in the shade. That was the day I started a Facebook page because I had so many photos.

This photo is from last year on July 20th, the Israeli President, the Head of the Labor Court, the Supreme Court, and the Minister of Justice posed with Israel’s first Druze female judge.

She spoke as family and friends with phone cameras recorded the historic message.

Today, President Isaac Herzog announced the second group of 15 recipients of the new annual “Presidential Medal for Civil Valor.”  Included was Milhem Asaad, a Druze citizen from Maccasra-Samie, a Maccabi Tel Aviv fan who flew to a game in Amsterdam. When the pogrom began on the streets of Amsterdam at a Maccabi Tel Aviv game, he took advantage of the fact that he spoke Arabic to mislead the rioters, thus saving many fans and warning other fans of the danger.

On Yom Haatzmaut, Israel Independence Day, these Druze leaders were honored guests at the televised Har Herzl ceremony with front row seats.

At the Jerusalem Marathon, Druze women participated with the OneFamily Together Organization.

Israelis and Druze come together in good times and mourning. The Israeli and Druze flags were flying together on July 19, 2017.

At the time, we traveled far north to pay a condolence call to the two Druze families whose sons were the policemen killed in Jerusalem near Lions Gate on July 14.

The women sat together outside, across the street.

A bereaved mother with a photo of their son supported by his sisters.

Mourning another Druze policeman who fell in the line of duty.

Another stop for this bereaved father – the women asked that their photos not be taken.

However, they had this photo of Haiel Sitawe smiling down above where the women sat.

More of that day was posted from Maalot to Hamamish – Jews and Druze bound together in mourning

It was last July when a rocket hit a football pitch in Majdal Shams, killing 12 Druze children.

I remember my first time at the Knesset sitting across from a Druze Member of Knesset in the dairy lunch room. He spoke of the long and sometimes difficult tradition of Druze support of Israel.

Israel is coming to the aid of Druze being attacked and murdered nearby in Syria while the world watches.

Here were only a few examples of Israel and Druze coming together in good times and bad.