Home » Israel » Go Golan! when did Israel start looking like Ireland?

Well, its finally come to the end. My 6 month internship program is officially over. I can’t believe it, I really can’t. As usual, 6 months has gone so fast. For the last week of our program, we had a 4 day trip to the north. It was full of emotions, especially me, only days after my cousin passed away, and just the overwhelming situation of the program ending, and friends leaving. But let me talk about the amazing trip we had before I get all mushy.

Go Golan! when did Israel start looking like Ireland?

Leah Schneier
2007-04-21 21:39:07

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who survived the battle. It also had the real radio transmissions that were transmitted between the soldiers in the tanks during the battle that played throughout the movie. It made the whole story very moving and emotional and real. The most powerful part of the movie, and part of the whole actual battle, was when the commander of all the forces in the area, Avigdor Kahalani (spelling?), yelled to his troops through the radios that he was going forward and he was going to be victorious against the Syrians. He said that the Syrians were being courageous soldiers, and so they needed to be even more so. He said he was going forward and told everyone to follow him, if they had the guts. They say that this speech inspired the forces and won the battle for Israel. It lit a fire under their asses and they charged forward and won. Hearing the speech for myself, in the movie, I can say that it would have inspired me to victory too. It was a very powerful movie and I was glad to get the chance to see it.

After this, we went and had an amazing lunch at a restaurant called Café Annan, which when our guide said it, sounded like Kofi Annan, ironic in that Kofi Annan hates Israel. Hehe. Just a little side note, hehe. So, this restaurant was on top of the Mountain Ben Tal. On this mountain is an old military bunker from the Yom Kippur war. It had trenches and a bunker built to look down into Syria, against the coming military forces, and was a great tactical military position. So, yeah, from this mountain, we could see into Syria, and see where the border is, and why this is such an important area to have under Israeli control. Today, and as a result of the aftermath of the Yom Kippur War, there are many mountains in the Golan with army bunkers, so that if another war happens with Syria, Israel is prepared, as they were not in 1973. Every soldier that has ever served in the Golan has a designated spot, that if a war with Syria were to break out, he would know exactly where to go. There are also some mines in the surrounding areas, placed by the Israeli army, after 1973, to prevent Syria from invading again. The fight over the Golan, in politics today, is a loaded issue, and I am not saying I am for one side or the other here (although I would hate to think that the beauty of the Golan would not be part of Israel). However, one of the key issues for Israel, is that the rain water that comes down from the Golan and into the Jordan river and Lake Kinneret is a very, very important water source for Israel (the most important actually). If, Israel and Syria do ever make peace, it will have to be guaranteed that Israel would not lose this water source, which severely complicates the issue of who the Golan belongs to, and who it would belong to, in the event of a peace treaty.

Our last stop of the day was Hamat Gader, a natural hot springs spa! The hot springs are nestled on the borders of Israel, Jordan, and Syria, in a beautiful valley. The hot springs were great, with lots of built in Jacuzzi beds and chairs. The sulfur smell wasn't even all that bad, at least not compared to the smell at Yellowstone park, but I was the only one who had been there, so to everyone else, it was pretty bad. Did I mention that my bathing suit still wreaks from the smell? Hehe. Now back to the hotel...

Part 2 to follow!!

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