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A Druze bride from the Golan waving goodbye to family as she makes her way to join her groom in Syria. (Dror Arzi / Jini) del.icio.us Digg It!  new Last update - 13:32 20/09/2007 Druze bride crosses from Israel into Syria for wedding, never to return By The Associated Press A misty-eyed bride waved goodbye to the family she was leaving behind, as she stared across the sun-scorched pavement toward her husband and new life in Syria. Then Waed Munzer, 26, a Druze from the village of Ein Qeinya in the Golan Heights, walked across the Quneitra border crossing Wednesday to marry her cousin in a rare moment when the heavily guarded Israeli-Syrian border was opened. "I'm happy and I'm sad," said the camera-shy Munzer in her wedding finery, as her brother ushered her toward the Syrian border. The bride is not allowed to go back to Israel. Advertisement She and the few family members who accompanied her joined other relatives and friends in the United Nations-supervised demilitarized zone between the two countries for an hourlong celebration and farewell. The wedding is scheduled for Friday in Syria. The Druze religion is an offshoot of Islam that keeps its tenets of faith secret. Israel's 1967 capture of the Golan split the Druze community between Syria and Israel, dividing families and friends. Other Druze live in nearby Lebanon. The husband, Majd Munzer, 30, who comes from the village of Raha in southern Syria, said he met his bride at a wedding he attended last October at a UN-supervised demilitarized zone on the border. He proposed to her that same day. Since then, she has been calling him on the phone. He, however, cannot call her. In 1993, Israel opened a one-way telephone with Syria in the Golan, where some 20,000 Druse live. Syrians can communicate with relatives across the border only with loudhailers in an area known as the 'shouting valley'. The border passage is also one way. Waed Munzer said she had to sign a document saying she would not return to Israel, ever. "She'll only be able to return if there's peace," said her brother. Even then, she'll only be a visitor. Israel allowed 16 members of the bride's family to join the celebration on the pavement between the borders, giving them a rare opportunity see some family and friends for the first time in years. "I am still hopeful that peace talks between Israel and Syria will resume soon," Majd Munzer said, adding, "so that the Golan would return to us and families on both sides of the border reunite." The wedding-farewell ceremonies take place several times a year at the border. An award-winning 2004 Israeli movie, The Syrian Bride, chronicled the conflicting emotions involved. Israel annexed the Golan Heights in 1981, but the move has won no international recognition. Syria demands return of the territory. "The crisis over Israel's reported airstrike did not jeopardize the wedding," said Paul Conneally, deputy head of the delegation for the International Committee of the Red Cross, referring to an alleged Israel Air Strike attack on Syria two weeks ago. This represents a positive and humanitarian event, he said. The Red Cross has orchestrated more than 150 cross-border weddings since 1983. Bookmark to del.icio.us China, Israel diverge With Livni in Beijing, China rejects Israel's call for tougher sanctions against Iran. Amending aliyah Interior Minister Sheetrit says Jews should not be granted automatic Israeli citizenship.   1.   Good, keep it going 13:23  |  Evan 20/09/07   2.   The bride 13:54  |  Uzi 20/09/07   3.   Attn: Uzi 14:11  |  T 20/09/07   4.   Uzi 14:12  |  Just a Thought 20/09/07   5.   Uzi 14:13  |  Just a Thought 20/09/07   6.   Uzi and T: I had to wash my screen after it showed your filths! 14:40  |  S 20/09/07   7.   What a wonderful day for the couple 14:48  |  Lynn 20/09/07   8.   Golan 14:59  |  Avrum 20/09/07   9.   I don`t find it fair 15:06  |  D. 20/09/07   10.   America Needs to Step In and Solve this Problem 15:13  |  Ed 20/09/07   11.   There was an Israeli Movie 15:15  |  * BEN JABO 20/09/07   12.   We all know what happens when cousins marry and get kids 15:16  |  Sara 20/09/07   13.   1/2 I agree - 25 new soldiers 15:16  |  Kevin 20/09/07   14.   T - Afula 15:17  |  * BEN JABO 20/09/07   15.   Bye Bye 15:29  |  Ron 20/09/07   16.   wedding bride -LYNNsee this too 15:30  |  Jack 20/09/07   17.   wedding bride -LYNN see this too 15:32  |  Jack 20/09/07   18.   To Uzi and others:a little more racism will not change too much t 15:38  |  Consciusnesse 20/09/07   19.   Why not allow 15:51  |  steve 20/09/07   20.   Proposed to her on the day he met her. 16:00  |  Chick 20/09/07   21.   WEST NOT SO BAD 16:10  |  TOBIA 20/09/07   22.   UXI SAY WHAT YOU MEAN YOU LIVE IN COUNTRY BEING ATTACKED 16:15  |  TOBIA 20/09/07   23.   T YOU HAVE A LOT OF NERVE 16:18  |  TOBIA 20/09/07   24.   #19 Steve MN 21:05  |  * BEN JABO 20/09/07   25.   Happiness in Syria ?? !! 21:13  |  jack tanous 20/09/07   26.   Racist pigs 01:34  |  Uzi 21/09/07   27.   Dear Mr. Ed 01:38  |  Uzi 21/09/07   28.   Re 11 BEN JABO LOWER THEN 20:36  |  Alan the real one 27/09/07   29.   Re 12 Oh you mean like 20:42  |  Alan the eal one 27/09/07   30.   RE: Bye Bye 20:10  |  K 01/10/07   31.   Why America? Ed 22:31  |  Rudy 23/10/07   32.   You people are disgrace 23:36  |  Philip 23/10/07   33.   Druse bride never to return 14:14  |  Michael Eisenstadt 30/10/07   34.   S # 6 18:32  |  American in NY 30/10/07   35.   Michael Eisenstadt _ They Don`t Travel Because 08:01  |  Eli 31/10/07

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