{
  "id": 365168,
  "title": "Birthright Israel launches project to build gardens for Druze town two years after Hezbollah strike",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/09/birthright-israel-launches-project-to-build-gardens-for-druze-town",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-09T10:18:15.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Jerusalem Post",
    "slug": "jerusalem-post",
    "url": "https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-904954"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Two years following a Hezbollah terror strike that claimed the lives of 12 children in the Druze town of Majdal Shams, the Birthright Israel Foundation has unveiled plans to construct eight therapeutic gardens in the region. The initiative, part of a larger effort to strengthen the connection between Jews and Israelis, will see approximately 1,000 volunteers from the Birthright Israel Volunteer Program contribute their time and skills.\n\nDuring a mid-July volunteer arrival, Dolan Abu Saleh, Head of the Majdal Shams Municipality, echoed the sentiment of acceptance, stating that \"the Jews finally accepted us.\" Elias Saratovsky, President and CEO of the Birthright Israel Foundation, emphasized the importance of these gardens in fostering bonds between world Jewry and Israel, adding that \"every volunteer we send strengthens that bond.\"\n\nThe Majdal Shams project, funded in part by the David and Meredith Kaplan Foundation, aims to bring thousands more volunteers into the area over the coming years. On the same day as the garden announcement, a memorial ceremony was held to honor the 12 victims of the July 27, 2024, rocket attack, which killed both boys and girls aged 10 to 16 and left 34 others wounded.",
  "summary": "The gardens will be built in four local educational institutions, with approximately 1,000 volunteers from the Birthright Israel Volunteer Program expected to take part.",
  "key_points": [
    "Birthright Israel plans eight therapeutic gardens in Druze town Majdal Shams.",
    "Initiative follows 2024 Hezbollah terror strike killing 12 children.",
    "1,000 volunteers from Birthright Israel program to contribute."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The Birthright Israel Foundation's plan to build therapeutic gardens in Majdal Shams signals a deeper connection between Jews and the Druze community, with volunteers strengthening bonds between world Jewry and Israel.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}