Following in his footsteps: The widow of the Druze fighter embarks on a journey of memory and belonging | Special interview

Yasmin Khatar, widow of Staff Sergeant Maher Khatar, participates in the "Path of the Druze Sons" race to commemorate her husband, the first fallen soldier buried in the military section in Majdal Shams. In an interview, she speaks about the pain, longing, belief in fate, and the message to the Druze community in the Golan Heights and Israeli society as a whole.

Yasmin Khatar, widow of Staff Sergeant Maher Khatar, will participate this weekend in the "Path of the Druze Sons" race to commemorate her husband. Maher, a resident of Majdal Shams, was the first fallen soldier buried in the military section in the village, after choosing to enlist in the IDF contrary to the tradition in the Druze villages of the Golan Heights, which are exempt from conscription due to their historical ties to Syria. In a special interview with Maariv, Yasmin describes Maher as a kind-hearted person who loved music and salsa dancing, worked in the family business, and felt a calling in his military service. Their last conversation took place on March 7, the day before he was killed. Yasmin speaks about the difficulty, the endless longing, and the belief in fate that sustains her. She emphasizes her message to the Druze community in the Golan Heights, calling on them to reconsider their identity and stance toward the state, as "Syria will not return here." To Jewish society she says: "Think carefully before taking positions that affect Druze society. We share a common destiny."

Following in his footsteps: The widow of the Druze fighter embarks on a journey of memory and belonging | Special interview