While it is beautiful, the northern border between Israel and Lebanon, has an extensive history of bloodshed. What remains of Beaufort Castle stood in the distance as a reminder of the 18 years of Israeli occupation from 1982-2000. The residents of the nearby settlements live as narrators of the past violence.
Today, the border is calm. Yet, 70,000 rockets lie hidden beneath the citizens of Lebanon. Hezbollah is too distracted for now to resume strikes on Israel. Deep seeded conflict between the Sunni and Shiite Muslims has erupted into civil war within Syria which could possibly spread to Lebanon.
According to Col. Kobe Merom, our guide for exploration of the northern borders, the young people of Lebanon no longer share the ideals of Hezbollah and are turning in a new direction. This may bode well for Israel’s security, And yet,
Later in the day we stood on the border with Syria which, like Lebanon’s was similarly strewn with signs of past conflicts. But in Syria a civil war is currently occurring and U.N. soldiers have been captured as part of the conflict. But, on this day the border is quiet as if only water, not blood, covered these lands. It seemed unreal that current war-zones could be so peaceful, so calm, so quiet. Yet, it was. For me, this scene was incredibly bizarre.