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Majdal Shams, Israel – August 14, 2025 – In a powerful gesture of unity and resilience, the Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce has signed a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Druze community of Ein Qiniyye in northern Israel — just meters from the site where 12 Druze children were killed by a rocket strike while playing soccer.
The symbolic agreement was signed during a high-profile media delegation to Israel, organized by the Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce in partnership with Chris Ruddy, CEO of Newsmax. The delegation, which included senior journalists and leading media figures from the United States, arrived by helicopter to the Golan Heights to meet with leaders of the Druze community.
The visit took place under the auspices of Newsmax and in cooperation with Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Ambassador Dan Oren, Director of the Civil Diplomacy Department, and Ran Natansan, Director of Innovation at the Ministry, both participated in the ceremony.
A Symbolic Location
Duvi Honig, Founder and CEO of the Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce, explained that the decision to sign the agreement in the modest sports hall of Ein Qiniyye was deliberate and deeply meaningful:
“The Druze community has always been a loyal friend and partner, standing alongside the Jewish people around the world. We value their unwavering support and will stand by them in return. On this mission we met with the President of Israel, the Prime Minister, and the Speaker of the Knesset — but it was equally important that the journalists hear the Druze voice. My last MOU signing was in Washington with all the ceremony. Here, in a small sports hall and without fanfare, two communities chose to understand and work together. This agreement is signed in memory of the 12 innocent children and as a stand against those who seek to divide us.”
A Brotherhood Pact
Wael Mugrabi, Head of the Ein Qiniyye Council, described the agreement as a “brotherhood pact” born of shared suffering and mutual loyalty:
“The Jewish people went through the Holocaust under the Nazis, and again on October 7. We Druze experienced our own tragedy in 2024 when a rocket struck us, and our brothers in Syria are suffering now. The only ones who stood by us were the Jews. This is a true partnership of two peoples who survived and who stand together.”
Support from Israel’s Foreign Ministry
The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed the Chamber’s initiative, emphasizing the enduring importance of the special bond between the Jewish people and the Druze community.
About the Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce
The Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce is a global business network uniting entrepreneurs, professionals, public officials, and community leaders to create opportunities, strengthen economies, and influence public policy worldwide.
About Ein Qiniyye
Ein Qiniyye (Arabic: عين قنية; Hebrew: עֵין קֻנִיֶּה) is a Druze village on the southern slopes of Mount Hermon, under Israeli control. Its population of roughly 2,400 residents, most of them Syrian citizens with permanent resident status in Israel, has long stood as a symbol of Druze heritage and resilience.