3/27/2011 - Har Bental

We drove through several Druze villages, some of which maintain their allegiance to Syria.  There are two types of Druze - some are very happy to be in Israel and participate in society in Israel, living in Israel proper; others live in disputed areas and maintain their allegiance to Syria in case their land would be returned to Syria.  They don't join the Israel defense forces.  The Druze are a closed society, but many of them are illiterate about their heritage.  In the Druze villages the fathers will build a floor onto their houses for their sons to live in when they marry.

We attempted to have lunch in Mesuda, a Druze village (Lake Ram is adjacent and is in the caldera of a volcano), but the cafe was too crowded already.  We continued on to Har Bental.

We ordered lunch in the cafe and then Nir told us about the surroundings of Har Bental, a former military stronghold attained int he 1967 war.  We were able to look well into Syria and see the border between Israel and Syria.  While on Har Bental there were many IDF (Israel Defense Forces) soldiers in full uniform (with their weapons).  The soldiers are very young as they enter service at 18 following high school, but they are devoted to the service of their country.

Looking into Syria.

Nir spoke of Elie Cohen who in 1967 was able to infiltrate the Syrian army and provide state secrets to the Israeli forces.  Elie told the Syrians to plant eucalyptus trees around the Syrian bunkers so they would be protected and shaded.  The Syrians did so and the IDF was able to see and bomb the Syrian bunkers.  Elie Cohen was caught and tortured by the Syrians because of his actions, but Israel was able to regain the Golan Heights, an important strategic position, because of him.

Following the 1967 6-day war, the IDF/Israel became very confident of their position and didn't prepare well before the 1973 Yom Kippur war.  Israel's defenses will never let their guard down again.