Two years since the Majdal Shams disaster: A team was launched to promote national programs for the Druze community

President of Israel Isaac Herzog hosted this morning, Monday, the launch of a first-of-its-kind national initiative — a task force bringing together 21 senior Druze leaders, who will work in cooperation with government ministries, local authorities, the business sector, academia, and civil society.

The national task force will promote the implementation of national programs for the Druze community as well as future strategic moves for the benefit of the Druze community and the State of Israel.

The initiative, led by the Ministry for the Development of the Negev, the Galilee and National Resilience, the Tayeb Foundation, and the "Merkaz Ma'ase" association, was born with the goal of connecting leaders of the Druze community from a variety of fields of activity, and creating initiatives, partnerships, and actions with public impact.

The event opened with a memorial for the 12 children and teenagers who were murdered by Hezbollah rocket fire on Majdal Shams two years ago, and with solidarity with the pain of the families and the Druze community. Launching the initiative on this day symbolizes the commitment to grow from the disaster into joint action, to strengthen the Druze community, and to deepen the partnership between it and the State of Israel.

President of Israel Isaac Herzog stated:

"We have a responsibility for the entire region, and for our Druze brothers and sisters in Israel and everywhere. The world is discovering today anew the power, depth, and uniqueness of the Druze people — an ancient story intertwined for thousands of years with the history of our peoples. The Druze leadership initiative is an important step for empowering leaders, for providing tools for breakthrough thinking, and for expanding the influence of the Druze public in all areas of life. I look forward to meeting the graduates of the program and hearing from them how they will lead, influence, and contribute to the Druze community, to Israeli society, and to the entire region."

Minister for the Development of the Negev, the Galilee and National Resilience, Yitzhak Wasserlauf, noted:

"The Druze community is woven into the story of the State of Israel with bonds of blood, brotherhood, and partnership. The unique program we are launching today illustrates this special connection and moves the Druze community forward, towards integration in action, influence, initiative, and development. Precisely on this day, we chose to grow out of the pain. We are building here together a leadership community that acts out of broad responsibility for the future of the Druze community and the national resilience of the State of Israel."

Sheikh Muafak Tarif, the spiritual leader of the Druze community, said:

"The strength of the Druze community, like the strength of the Jewish people, is in unity and mutual responsibility. Although these things are prominent mainly in times of crisis, the connection today is from a place of hope and of creating a better reality. I am confident that the team gathering today will know how to join forces, combine minds, and will create partnerships and connections."

Chaim Tayeb, president and founder of the Tayeb Foundation, added:

"We are launching a national initiative today, and at the same time marking two years since the heavy disaster in Majdal Shams, a disaster that reminded us all of the depth of the partnership and mutual responsibility between us. Out of the great pain, we seek to create a covenant of life — a covenant of responsibility, partnership, and action for the future of the Druze community. Dorna is an expression of this commitment — to turn partnership into action. The team we established will connect the Druze leadership, the government, and civil society, in order to turn decisions and plans into real change in the lives of the citizens."