Conquering The Golan

Probably my favourite thing to do in Israel is to drive through the Negev and the Arava from Tel Aviv down to Eilat. I thought it was because you see the barren red landscape and it's quiet and peaceful, just you and the A/C. I'm starting to think it has something to do with how clearly you can see the path. If Jordan is on your left, you're going the correct direction. Here in the North, I see a lot of trees, and lots of mountains, and I lose my orientation a lot. But that's what the bus driver is for. So try to follow me through this post, and we'll work out the geography together (or ask Roey).

To start the day, we drove (North?) from Emek Ha'Hula into the Golan Heights, to the Banias Nature Reserve. The pen-pals and their teacher were with us, and two security guards. Everybody inflated a balloon and tied it to their backpack/hoodie. As we hiked through the cactus lined paths over the jagged rocks, balloons were popping left and right. 

Traditionally, the Banias has been the first sight of natural water in Israel. It really drives home the point about how critical the Kineret is to national security, even if the streets of Jerusalem were riverish when we saw them. As we walked by the gushing rapids, it was easy to understand the dire situation Israelis would have been in if Syria had succeeded in drying them up before the Six Day War.

From the top of the park, you can look (South?) over the entire Galil and understand even better the advantage that the Syrians had during that time. But that was all pushed aside in the jeeps, tearing through the Golan, a freshly powdered Har Hermon watching our every move. Nobody fell out of the Jeep or got overly motion-sick, so that was a great success, too (though we did have to lay a few more balloons to rest).

And what does everybody need after an hour in a jerky, lurching vehicle? A feast! Pita, hummus, and chicken came and went, washed down with some lemonana. Then it was back on the jeeps up (East?) to Tel Facher, high up in the Golan. 

A number of times, the jeep tour has actually ended at a different peak, at Har Bental. Har Bental (if I'm not mistaken), looks down at Qunetra, Syria, showing visitors the vantage point the IDF has held over Syria since the Six Day War. Tel Facher, on the other hand, was a Syrian stronghold, the highest of three peaks between Emek Ha'Hula and the Golan Heights. It was clear to see the route Golani had to take to conquer it in 1967. Hanging out under the Eucalyptus shade, Roey re-told the story of Eli Cohen, and why his efforts were so crucial to Israel's success in that war.  

It's a day where the worldviews of the Israelis and Canadians clash. In our world, we learn about brave Israelis protecting the future of the Jewish state and the Jewish people. In theirs, their parents and siblings are those people. They will be those people soon. This is the day that shows why the Partnership program is so important. We have our opinions at home: Israel should do this, Israel should do that. Well these are the people who do it. We know them. We care about the Israelis, and the Israelis like them.

Only two balloons survived the day. It was a rough battle, but they made it, and the group is stronger for it. Strong enough for the ropes course and rafting that come next!