Back in 2017 I visited an observation point in Israel.

The pictures and thoughts in this post are mainly copied from what I wrote back then.

I have been thinking of this place for the last several weeks since the war in Israel started. The observation point is near Merom Golan in the Golan Heights. From the observation point we could look into Syria and also see the border with Lebanon.

I was also in this general area during my first trip to Israel in 2012. See my post: Looking into Syria

Merom Golan is very near the border with Syria. In this snag from Google Maps you really don’t need the dotted line to see the border. You can see the land that is under cultivation on the Israel side of the border.

Here is an example. See all the green fields? These are on the Israel side of the border. Just beyond the fields is Syria.

I have marked the overlook with a red circle. It is only a little more than a mile from the ruined city of Al Qunaitra in Syria. This area of the Golan Heights was closed down a few weeks after my trip there as errant mortar fire from the Syrian conflict had been landing on the Israel side of the border for the past two days. Highway 98 was also shut down and civilians were warned to stay out of this area. I am sure that it is very similar now as there have been many border conflicts in this area during the war that is currently raging.

At the lookout we were able to walk though some of the old bunkers that were used during past conflicts in the Golan Heights. I am sure that these are in use now.

Here is a view out of one of the lookout posts. A beautiful view, but not so nice if the enemy is coming your way.

Here are trenches that are also part of the defense system on top of the lookout point.

Looking north from the lookout you can see Mount Hermon where Lebanon, Syria and Israel all come together.

When we were there you could hear some very distant rumbles, but I am sure today that it is much worse. There was a team of UN observers who manned the observation post there in 2017 watching the border with Syria, but probably it is much busier now.

I am glad that I am not there today.

Steven