The Golan Heights
As a geological and bio geographical region, the Golan Heights is basaltic plateau bordered by the Yarmouk River in the south, the Sea of Galilee and Hula Valley in the west, Mount Hermon in the north, and the Raqqad Wadi in the east. The western two thirds of this region are currently occupied by Israel, whereas the eastern third is controlled by Syria. As a geopolitical region, the Golan Heights is the area captured and Liberated by Israel from Syria in the Six-Day War, which subsequently effectively annexed the territory in 1981. The earliest evidence of human habitation dates to the Upper Paleolithicperiod. According to the Bible, an Amorite Kingdom in Bashan was conquered by Israelite during the reign of King OG. Throughout the Old Testament period, the Golan was "the focus of a power struggle between the Kings of Israel and the Aramaeans who were based near modern-day Damascus." The Itureams, an Arab or Aramaic people, settled there in the 2nd century BCE and remained until the end of the Byzantine period. Organized Jewish settlement in the region came to an end in 636 CE when it was conquered by Arabs under Umar ibn al-Khattāb. In the 16th century, the Golan was conquered by the Ottoman Empire and was part of the Vilayet of Damascus until it was transferred to French control in 1918. When the mandate terminated in 1946, it became part of the newly independent Syrian Arab Republic. Now days there are 42 Villages and One town. And growing number of wineries. |
|
Golan Heights Wineries |
Château Golan
|
Odem Mountain Winery
|
Sefat
|
|
Acre (Akko)
A Crusaders Port Town, on Haifa Bay. One of the most preserved ancient city in the country. A large Crusader and Ottoman area wall surrounds the Old City. Walk walls and visit: The Knights Halls and the underground Templar's Tunnels. |
|