While touring the Golan Heights with Sarit Zahavi we visited lookout spots that all have significant meaning to Israel, its security and foreign relations. There were 3 that I thought were particularly interesting.
The first place we went was a lookout above the Jordan Valley. Sarit pointed out a broken bridge in the valley below and explained to us that during the time of British control, undergrounds were built beneath bridges all over Israel. These undergrounds were exploded as Israel’s attempt to enable providers to give the British resources. This is just one example of how while Israel is one of the smallest countries, they can prove to the rest of the world that they are not to be messed with. But while this is true Sarit pointed out a very important aspect of Israel’s defense philosophy: “It’s not about killing, it’s about defending”. This explains Israel’s passion for serving and protecting its homeland.
The next place we traveled was to a lookout on the Sea of Galilee. Here we stood at the southeast side of the Kineret and across we could see Tiberius. While we sat there enjoying the view, Sarit explained to us some of the motivations for Israel to take over the Golan Heights from Syria. One was water and the idea that the Kineret, Israel’s water source today, was being limited and watched by the Syrians thus making it difficult to access. The other main motivation was security. In order for Israel to maintain a safe environment, they had to capture the Golan Heights because the Syria was very strategically watching over the land and made it difficult to access or have relations. Also it became very dangerous for people to live everyday lives with the constant shootings by the Syrians who felt that the Israeli citizens didn’t belong. With this lesson about the Golan Heights, Sarit explained to us her role as an intelligence officer in the Israeli Defense Force. Her two main roles are to alert the army about impeding wars, and also assist in preparation for war. Her role is very important because among many things, through Sarit’s job on the IDF, she is able to help protect and defend her country.
The third lookout that I found extremely interesting in this tour was Tel Saki or one of the most important sites in the Yom Kippur War. This site was a very simple hill with an Israeli flag on it. Sarit explained to us that during this war, 28 soldiers were held on this hill by the Syrians, in a bunker the size of a small room. For 2.5 days, these soldiers lived, some of them wounded, not knowing if anyone would come to rescue them. The Syrians fired on anyone who tried to enter the area. After several days one of the trapped soldiers removed his white undershirt and waved it to the Syrian armies as a trick. He wanted them to think he was the only soldier in the bunker. The Syrians fell for it, he was taken hostage, and the trapped soldiers escaped. Since the end of the Yom Kippur War, this site has been a monument to brotherhood as well as the brave measures that one is willing to take to defend Israel and its citizens. Sarit explained to us that a job in the Israeli army is difficult but the Israelis learn to live and develop their lives in this land. It is not scary to live in this land for them because they are brave and willing to do what is necessary to defend their culture and identities.
The first place we went was a lookout above the Jordan Valley. Sarit pointed out a broken bridge in the valley below and explained to us that during the time of British control, undergrounds were built beneath bridges all over Israel. These undergrounds were exploded as Israel’s attempt to enable providers to give the British resources. This is just one example of how while Israel is one of the smallest countries, they can prove to the rest of the world that they are not to be messed with. But while this is true Sarit pointed out a very important aspect of Israel’s defense philosophy: “It’s not about killing, it’s about defending”. This explains Israel’s passion for serving and protecting its homeland.
The next place we traveled was to a lookout on the Sea of Galilee. Here we stood at the southeast side of the Kineret and across we could see Tiberius. While we sat there enjoying the view, Sarit explained to us some of the motivations for Israel to take over the Golan Heights from Syria. One was water and the idea that the Kineret, Israel’s water source today, was being limited and watched by the Syrians thus making it difficult to access. The other main motivation was security. In order for Israel to maintain a safe environment, they had to capture the Golan Heights because the Syria was very strategically watching over the land and made it difficult to access or have relations. Also it became very dangerous for people to live everyday lives with the constant shootings by the Syrians who felt that the Israeli citizens didn’t belong. With this lesson about the Golan Heights, Sarit explained to us her role as an intelligence officer in the Israeli Defense Force. Her two main roles are to alert the army about impeding wars, and also assist in preparation for war. Her role is very important because among many things, through Sarit’s job on the IDF, she is able to help protect and defend her country.
The third lookout that I found extremely interesting in this tour was Tel Saki or one of the most important sites in the Yom Kippur War. This site was a very simple hill with an Israeli flag on it. Sarit explained to us that during this war, 28 soldiers were held on this hill by the Syrians, in a bunker the size of a small room. For 2.5 days, these soldiers lived, some of them wounded, not knowing if anyone would come to rescue them. The Syrians fired on anyone who tried to enter the area. After several days one of the trapped soldiers removed his white undershirt and waved it to the Syrian armies as a trick. He wanted them to think he was the only soldier in the bunker. The Syrians fell for it, he was taken hostage, and the trapped soldiers escaped. Since the end of the Yom Kippur War, this site has been a monument to brotherhood as well as the brave measures that one is willing to take to defend Israel and its citizens. Sarit explained to us that a job in the Israeli army is difficult but the Israelis learn to live and develop their lives in this land. It is not scary to live in this land for them because they are brave and willing to do what is necessary to defend their culture and identities.