This past Sunday, in a historic appointment, the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) elected former MK Col. (res.) Mufid Marie as its commissioner for the promotion of Druze society, making him the first Druze to join JAFI’s Board of Governors. His appointment also came with a call to action for the Knesset to pass legislation recognizing the Druze community’s dedication to the State of Israel and affirming their full equality as Israeli citizens.
“We, the members of the Druze community, have stood with the State of Israel for generations and will continue to do so in the future,” Marie said. “I see my new position as a mission to strengthen the relationship, partnership, and equality between the Druze community and the State of Israel, and as a significant opportunity to advance the important needs of the Druze community in Israel.”
Get to Know Israel’s Druze
Marie was born and raised in Hurfeish, a Druze village located just two kilometers from Israel’s northern border with Lebanon. Home to almost 7,000 people, Hurfeish has faced the harsh realities of conflict over the past year, including a devastating Hezbollah drone attack in June that killed one IDF soldier and injured ten others.
The Druze community, though small—just 150,000 people in Israel (about 1.5% of the population)—plays an integral role in the fabric of Israeli society. An Abrahamic religion distinct from Judaism and Islam, the Druze faith emphasizes loyalty to the country in which they live. In Israel, this has translated into generations of military and civic service. Today, over 80% of Druze men enlist in the army, accounting for about 5% of all soldiers in the IDF. Marie’s own brother, Colonel Nabiya Marie, lost his life while serving as deputy commander in 1996.
The Hurfeish-Federation Partnership
In recognition of the significant contribution that the Druze population has made, Hurfeish became one of our Federation’s sister cities in Israel, following the Second Lebanon War in 2006. To this day, we are the only U.S. Federation with a partner relationship that connects a Diaspora Jewish community to an Israeli Arab village. Marie currently leads this partnership as chair (in addition to his role on JAFI’s Board of Governers) and has actively strengthened ties between Hurfeish and Greater MetroWest.
Federation Allocates $350,000 to Hurfeish
Since October 7, Hurfeish has faced heightened threats as tensions across Israel’s borders continue to escalate, underscoring the importance of this partnership. In response to these challenges, Federation has allocated over $350,000 to provide Hurfeish with immediate and critical support, addressing emergency needs, economic relief, and youth programs. This includes:
- Strengthening security and first response capabilities, with supplies like binoculars, flashlights, first aid kits, and tourniquets.
- Equipping the community with a heavy-duty vehicle for off-road rescues in the region’s rugged terrain.
- Establishing a mass casualty clinic in partnership with JDC, stocked with 1,846 essential medical items.
- Providing families with basic necessities, such as food and hygiene products.
More than just aid, this partnership is about creating a living bridge across communities: Jewish and Druze, Greater MetroWest and Hurfeish. It’s a relationship grounded in trust, respect, and a genuine desire to support each other through difficult times.
It’s moments like these that remind us of the power of standing together. Through our collective action, we’re doing more than fortifying Hurfeish—we’re making sure the Druze community’s contributions to Israel are recognized and valued. By standing up for them in legislation and showing our appreciation here in Greater MetroWest, we’re strengthening our ties with Israel, while investing in an equal and united future for its peoples.