The Druze population of 18 villages throughout Israel converged on a Druze village in Western Galilee to welcome Prime Minister David Ben Gurion on his visit to the community.
The Premier arrived by helicopter and landed to the cheers of bearded sheiks, soldiers, border policemen, disabled veterans, farmers, teachers and young people. Women and girls of the community, wearing traditional costumes, provided a colorful background for the reception.
In a specially constructed dais, the Prime Minister received greetings of the Druze spiritual leader, Sheik amin Tarif, Druze Knesset members and other elders. In flowery speeches they praised the efforts of the Government of Israel for the Druze community. The Prime Minister shook hands with parents who had lost sons in the Israel War of Liberation. Addressing the gathering, he said words failed him in efforts to express his appreciation of the loyalty and patriotism shown by the Druze in Israel’s cause.
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