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Israelis vacation in Golan Heights despite tensions with Syria
Thousands spend holiday weekend in the Golan Heights despite reports of rising tensions between Israel and Syria. 'Anyone who stayed home this weekend really missed out,' they say
Hikers from all over Israel visited the 33 towns making up the Golan Heights Regional council, visiting such places as Qatzrin's old city, the Quntera observatory, Mt Bental and the many wineries located in the area.
Carmit Abadi, who vacationed with her family in Kibbutz Marom Golan told Ynet the Heights were her family's first choice: "Last year we had to cancel our vacation because of the Second Lebanon War, but this year we knew we had to come here and we're having a great time."
"I don't think anyone here has been overly complacent, but if the IDF is allowing us to vacation here – we must have nothing to worry about," Yaniv Elimelehc, who came from Beersheba told Ynet.
"People from central Israel are not used to this kind of peace and quiet… anyone who chose to stay home this weekend instead of coming up here has really missed out. We're already planning our next vacation here," Reuven Chen from Herzliya told Ynet.
Hoteliers in the Golan Heights said Saturday that their holidays' occupancy rates were up to 95%-100% and that the Israeli-Syrian tensions reported in the media had not resulted in any cancelled reservations.
