A recently published book details the history of Druze soldiers in the IDF. Photo: IDF Blog.

Forty-two years after the Yom Kippur War, a new book tells the story of the members of Israel’s Druze community who fought with the IDF during Israel’s wars, including the Yom Kippur War, Walla reported on Tuesday.

Druze — Brave Fighter, Proud Israeli [our translation: ed.], by Eitan Kfir and Dani Dor, which just hit the stores in Israel, is an account of the serious military contribution of Israel’s Druze to the defense of the Jewish state since its establishment — including the fact that 405 Druze soldiers have been killed in combat so far.

Israeli Druze are subject to the same compulsory military service as their Jewish counterparts. Until recently, they have served primarily in the IDF’s elite Gdud Herev (Sword Battalion), comprised exclusively of Druze.

The growing trend among young Druze to join other elite units left Herev understaffed, which led to its disbandment this summer, and to the integration of Druze soldiers into the rest of the army.

According to IDF statistics, 83% of Druze boys serve in the army, the highest percentage among all Israeli communities, including Jews.