Authorities in the Golan: “The Worst Predictions Are Beginning to be Realized”

The continuations of the battles across the border in Syria, that are spilling over into Israel, are putting a strain on the residents and community leaders in the Golan. "The residents here fear for their safety," said a Golan Heights authority to Channel 2 News Online. "We are keeping to routine, but are on alert," noted a resident of the Golan Heights today who sent her son to first grade.

Sep 01, 2014, 04:01PM | Gal Cohen

Pillars of Smoke From Fighting in Syria Channel 2 News/Guy Varon

Shooting from Syria, that is disrupting the lifestyle and worrying community leaders: In southern Israel, residents returned to normal after the operation, and now in the Golan Heights peaceful life has changed to fear as heavy fighting across the border fence with Syria continues to spill into Israel. Settlements in the Golan Heights expressed concern today for the safety of residents as well as concerns about a fatal blow to tourism in the region.

"The presence of Al-Qaeda across the border is worrisome, and residents here fear for their safety," one of the leading authorities of the Golan Heights told Channel 2 News Online.  "Assad was not peace-loving, but the border was quiet.  Now there’s a murderous terrorist organization that works directly against the residents of the Golan Heights."
While community leaders of the Golan Heights are certainly fearful, they are not entirely surprised. "The worst predictions presented to us in recent years are beginning to be realized," says an authority of the Golan Heights. "Al-Qaeda fighters are sitting on the border and the fighting continues to penetrate across to the border.
Even this morning, on the first day of the school year, when a mortar shell fell in the Golan, thousands of parents sent their children to the first day of the school.  "This morning my son went to first grade in light of the explosions," Karen Gelbart, a resident of Kibbutz Ein Ziwan told Channel 2 News Online.  "It's not an easy or pleasant situation, but we are keeping to routine.  I feel that the schools in the area are prepared for any situation, but we are also staying alert.”

Mortar Fell In Open Field in the Golan Channel 2 News

Mortar on the Way to School
A mortar shell fell in the Golan Heights this morning and exploded in an open area.  The mortar was shot as part of the fighting in Syria, in the Quneitra area. No injuries or damage were caused, but the area was declared a closed military zone, and farmers working in nearby plantations were evacuated from the area.
On the other side of the border, the fierce fighting between members of the terrorist organization Jabhat al-Sawn and the forces of President Bashar Assad continue near the Quneitra crossing and near the UN facility that is in the center of this area.  At this stage, neither party has been able to achieve victory in battle, and the echoes of the constant firing are heard all over the Golan Heights.
The defense system continues to closely monitor the changes in light of border fighting, to assist the United Nations forces in any area and observe what is needed to combat the terrorist organization affiliated with al-Qaida, hoping that they will keep their distance and not get involved in a direct confrontation of Israel in the north.

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