The Golan Heights Near the Sea of Galilee - One of the Most Important 1967 Six Day War Acquisitions
Posted: Friday, May 20, 2011
by Christofer French
Rain Dancer Associates, LLC
Obama’s recent comments concerning the “1967 borders” has made many focus on what Israel was before that war 44 years ago. Those “borders” cover areas from the Gaza strip to Jerusalem’s city lines and west bank limits. But probably the most significant area from a pure military and geographical point of view is the Golan Heights.
The Golan Heights are strategically important for several reasons:
Israeli presence in the Golan Heights provides a defensible border against invasion by land;
All of northern Israel is within range of direct artillery fire from the Golan Heights;
The Heights control the main water sources of the State of Israel.
Obtaining the Heights in 1967 was not as Hard as Keeping them in 1973
“We Stopped Fasting as soon as we heard we were Being Attacked”
The above quote came from a tank captain being interviewed recently about this war. The Yom Kippur War is called that because they used the Jewish Holy Day of Fasting as their time for attack. This group of committed young professionally trained soldiers was outnumbered seven to one. Like the ancient Greeks, who went across the same area with the same kinds of odds, they hung on, survived and won the day. Like David against Goliath, outmaneuvering, outthinking and over achieving, so that the Syrians literally got in their own way in a night attack, working to hold onto the Heights was essential to this nation’s continued existence.
This highland area (about 3000 feet above sea level) is 1200 square miles of volcanic escarpment which allows for the holder thereof to a distinct natural advantage of height and ease of defense.
The Battle and Its Images
For Nine months this attack had been planned. The sheer size of the Syrian force – 1400 tanks, artillery and personnel was so vast in comparison with the Israelis that any army but the Jewish one might have surrendered immediately. The Jews had 150 tanks. But as Netanyahu recently demonstrated in his speech with Obama, the Jews have nowhere to go but to live and thrive where they are. The youngest Sabra enlisted in the army is as fundamentally fixed on that point of view as is the most highly trained statesman. So, a surprise attack is in fact never really a true “surprise”. The Israelis are always ready.
Where is the Bridging Equipment?
The Syrians did everything they could to lull the Israelis into a fall sense of security. The attack, its prelude and its unfolding seemed to indicate a complete and utter route. Then an oversight created by the Syrians turned the battle in the Israelis favor.
All around the Jewish positions long pits and traps had been dug as defensive techniques for preventing tanks from coming over unmolested. When the tanks approached, scores and scores of the Syrian tanks came upon the pits and traps and realized they needed their bridging equipment. They asked: “Where are the bridges?” The Syrians had forgotten to put the bridging equipment up in the front of the battle. It was back in the rear. This important oversight created, not only a tremendous edge in the mayhem and noise of battle, it encouraged the Israelis who were firing for all of their well-trained worth. It made them feel that God was not only on their side, but he was actively intervening. Of course, this gave them an edge. This caused great harm for Syria. This side of the battle lost its momentum, even though it would continue. They were able to come to a stalemate at a key northern road. The attention then went to the southern edge of the Heights.
This southern Syrian force moved west, from the east, and assaulted the newly supporting Jews who were coming up from the South. These who had just “stopped fasting” felt the same fierce sense of self defense as they were equally outnumbered. They were coming up the Heights, and the Syrians were on the Heights coming down on the Jews from the East. This caused a fascinating situation.
Israeli Tanks Shoot Up Well, Syrian Tanks Inhibited on Shooting Downward
It only helps to be up on a hill if you can shoot down. Well, a design characteristic in the Russian-made tank prevents the barrel from aiming downward because it meets the top of the superstructure of the tank. It is not even a flaw; it’s just a characteristic. It just prevents a descending angle of a certain degree. This inhibition did not allow for effective shooting or successful defense. Ironically, the American-made Israeli tank was designed so that it could take a sharp upward angle of fire. This seemingly small contrast led to a considerable advantage which the Israeli tankers were able to take advantage of.
American High Tech Secret Information
Along with the Jewish pluck, toughness and sheer fierce bravery, they also had an incredible advantage because of our spy technology. Documents relating to the American spy-plane, the ‘SR-71 Blackbird’, show that the Israelis knew where major concentrations of Arab forces were as they were supplied with this information as a result of a SR-71 flying over the war zone. Of course contact on a 24 hour basis, gave them such knowledge, the Israelis knew where to deploy their forces for the best possible effect. While it feels like you have a supernatural aid and looks intuitive; the actual devastating counter-attacks by the Israelis, were based on very detailed information gained from American intelligence. Basically, the Israelis knew where their enemy was and could co-ordinate an attack accordingly.
A “Target Rich” Environment
Along with this secret information, the Israeli fighters had developed exceptional long range gunnery skills. They picked off the Syrians from great distances. Why? The Syrian’s great numbers created clouds of sand and dust which gave early warning of their arrival. It made them large targets. There were so few Israeli tanks, they could take advantage of firing positions and hide their locations. They were able to create a chaos of explosions in clouds of smoke and dust that prevented effective and efficient Syrian maneuvering. This “target rich” environment, much like American Revolutionaries firing at the English in the open at Concord, caused flight, confusion and disarray on the part of the Syrians. This article did not address the Egyptian attack on Israel in the South, choosing rather to focus on the absolute key nature of this geographical/geological spot.
The Golan Heights Stays With Israel, thus maintaining the 1967 Borders
Both the 1967 and the 1973 conflicts were incredibly short in normal terms of warfare, but that is because the day was won when it was won, and the subject of battle and the place of battle made the end so certain. It is really very obvious. And this obvious reason underlines why the 1967 borders must not change. The Israelis had to work to one simple equation: if they lost, the state of Israel would cease to exist. Therefore, for Israel it was a fight to the finish – literally "death or glory". If the various Arab nations lost, they could survive for another day. And so, on top of the Golan Heights today, you will see an Israeli Unit overlooking enemies at every turn. They know if this spot is ever surrendered, their country will be within immediate, constant and continual threat of molestation and destruction.
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