Legacy of the Golan Heights

Author Michael L Weiss

Traveling to the Golan brings up many memories and emotions for me having spent so many years in the middle east and traveling to hot spots around the world.  From my point of view, the proficiency and staunch determination of the Israeli Military in capturing and then later defending and repulsing a much larger force is astounding. What is beyond dispute is the fact that the Golan Heights has significant if not critical Strategic Importance for any who would hold its position.  As we made our way up to the Israeli observation site I sense what may be a feeling of pride through association. The victory of the small Israeli Army over a much larger Syrian force reminds me of how I felt as a child reading about David and Goliath. However, as opposed to reading a biblical story, it unfolded live on TV for my generation and having just recently been to the fields where the young David defeated Goliath (Blog Post Valley of Elah) being here made this even more heart-felt. But the Golan is not just about recent military battles so a quick history of the region may be helpful:

From a historical perspective, this geographic area has been contested for over 3,000 years. The Golan was part of the Jewish Nation and identity all the way back to 900 BCE or longer. The word “Golan” apparently derives from the biblical city of “Golan in Bashan,” referenced in both Deuteronomy 4:43 and Joshua 21:27. In the early First Temple period (953-586 BCE), the area was contested by both Israel and the decedents of what would be known as Syria today. In the First Temple Period the northern Jewish kingdom of Israel and the Aramean kingdom based in Damascus both laid claim on this land.  King Ahab of Israel (reigned c. 874-852 BCE) defeated Ben-Hadad I of Damascus, and King Jehoash of Israel (reigned c. 801-785 BCE) would defeat Ben-Hadad III of Damascus. And sadly, for the last 3,000 years, The Golan has been subject to frequent wars with various entities trying to control this location. 

As we walked the former military base, the views from the Golan Heights are majestic, we are at 9,300 feet above sea level, and you have a commanding view of the valleys that surround the area peering down over Syria, Lebanon, and Israel. As we approached our destination, we saw old Syrian Military fortified positions that use to rain terror onto the Israelis. However, today the old weapons of war have been transformed into artistic sculptures decorating the entire area and as I looked at the artwork a Jewish prayer came right to mind, 

“God shall judge between the nations and shall decide for many peoples, and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation; neither shall they learn war anymore.” (Isaiah 2:4)

Valley of Tears

As I mentioned above, the Yom Kippur War of 1973 defended the Golan Heights that Israel had captured during the 1967 war. The cost of this victory was significant in terms of loss of life and equipment and the battlefield became known as the Valley of Tears. 

To briefly recap what occurred, the largest tank battles in military history happened here at Mount Bental a key strategic point for Israel due to its advantageous observation point. The Syrians surprised and attacked the Israelis on Yom Kippur with 1,500 tanks and 1,000 artillery pieces and it was devastating. The Syrians were well equipped and were using a new technology called Night Vision provided by the Soviet Union. The Israelis did not have this ability making the defense of the area especially at night even more difficult. The Israelis countered with only 160 tanks and 60 artillery pieces a hugely lopsided force.  At first, it looked as if the Syrians would retake this region, but the tides of war turned due to the persistence and determination of the Israeli military. The long stretch of valley in between Mount Bental and Mount Hermon where the battle played out became known as the Valley of Tears. The 100 Israeli tanks were reduced to seven under extreme enemy fire. However, with emergency military aid from the United States, the Israelis managed to take down 600 Syrian tanks in the process. The Syrians eventually retreated, but not without inflicting heavy casualties on Israel. 

Now fast forward to 2019, 52 years since the 1967 war, the United States changed its position of neutrality and fully recognized Israel’s Sovereignty over the Golan Heights, saying “it is of critical strategic and security importance to the State of Israel and Regional Stability.” As to why the United States picked this time to recognize the State of Israel’s claim, the Wall Street Journal summed it up quite clearly, “Recognizing the Golan sends a message to Russia, Syria’s patron, that the U.S. recognizes that the civil war has changed Syrian reality. There is no returning to a nonexistent status quo ante.”

Today you can walk in the trenches the Israelis made defending this region, metal artistic sculptures of soldiers pointing rifles give you a feeling of what it must have been like defending this position. The entire experience was incredibly serene. You are overlooking the beauty of the land, flowers, mountains, and artwork while our guide told us about the battles that occurred.  For me, however, the most beautiful memory I took away from this site was all the young Israeli high school students playing music, drinking coffee, and sodas, singing and laughing carefree in the shadow of the Valley of Tears and an Israeli Airforce Base located in the valley.  What was once so bitter it had to be called the Valley of Tears is now a place of joy and happiness, we should all pray that it stays this way forever.