Israel Day 7 - Golan Heights

Israel blog July 4, 2007
Day 7 – Golan Heights

Today we left the Hagroshim Kibbutz and drove to the Golan Heights where this part of Israel was under constant bombardment from Syrian forces situated in a maze of underground bunkers. The Syrian troops, with the support of Russia, were entrenched in 50 miles of bunkers along the mountains of the Golan Heights and shelled many of the Kibbutz below the mountains that were in the Hula, Galilee and Jordan Valley for 19 years, from 1949 to the 1967. In the Six Days War Israeli troops fought an uphill battle to defeat the Syrians

Throughout Israel, and here as well, it was demonstrated through archeological excavations that Jews had settled this land over 3000 years ago. The village of Gamla dates back to the time of the first temple in Jerusalem. If Israel were to abandon this area, not only would Syria continue to threaten the communities in the area, but all the agriculture, commerce, and history that dates back 3000 years would be destroyed. While the Jews made the desert bloom, the other Arab countries did nothing with this land, other than bomb the progress that Israel made.

The story of how the maze of bunkers was discovered is a fascinating one. However, even though it was discovered how the Syrians were able to bomb sites in northern Israel undetected for so many years, it was almost impossible to get a map of this crazy maze. A spy was sent to Argentina to set up an alibi as a wealthy businessman with Syrian roots who wanted to return to his homeland after the death of his grandfather. He became a part of the Damascus society circles and became friends with the general who was in charge of the Syrian forces in the Golan Heights.

While no one was allowed to live in this area, as it was a military zone for Syria, no one was even allowed to visit, except the spy from Israel. Eventually his deception was discovered and he was hanged in a public square. He gave up his family and his life to help Israel survive and ultimately kick the Syrians off the Golan Heights. From the 1967 Six Days War it shifted from Syrian soldiers overlooking Israel to Israeli soldiers overlooking Syria. It was easy for Israel to settle the Golan Heights area after the Six Days War because Syria had this 50 by 15 mile area as a military base and no civilians were allowed there.

Seven years later, in 1973, Syria invaded the northern area in a surprise attack on Yom Kipur, while Egypt invaded the south of Israel. I purchased a 12 minute DVD based on a 24 minute film that I saw at the Elrona Kibbutz. The film shows actual footage of the tank invasion in the battle of the Golan Heights and interviews with the survivors and the families of those who died.

Since 1973 there has been a cease fire with Syria, but no peace treaty. We then went to Mt. Bental where we had a 350 degree view of Israel and Syria. This used to be a Syrian base, then and Israeli base, and now a tourist stop. The UN is stationed in the valley to monitor the cease fire and while there is no formal peace treaty, at least there is a degree of peace.