Golan Heights residents resume routine activities after tense night
After spending the night in security rooms following the Iranian rocket attack on bases in the Golan Heights and the Israeli retaliatory strikes in Syria, residents say they feel protected by the IDF.
The Golan Heights' residents said Thursday morning was relatively quiet, and seemed to be maintaining vigilance, yet they continued with their routine as much as possible.
"We spent the night in a security room," said Kibbutz El Rom's resident Mirit Cohen. "Our children slept with us, we are well trained and prepared for these kinds of events.
"The night was a bit tense, but all in all we feel safe. This has been a routine morning for us, knowing the IDF is keeping us safe," Cohen added.
A resident of Moshav Sha'al, located in the northern Golan Heights, said the air raid siren went off the minute he and his family went to bed around midnight.
"I immediately received a message on my phone instructing us to enter the security rooms. We kept being updated by the local council's situation room about what was going on," Haziza said.
'We weren't surprised about the turn of events. The tension in our region has been rising recently, and we've been feeling it very vividly. We know what to do and continue with our routine," he went on to say.
El Rom's director of tourism Eran Levi said that for now there were no cancelations of vacations scheduled for the coming weekend.
"Several buses with German and American tourists are scheduled to arrive today. Moreover, numerous guides who regularly work with us said they will come to support us. So far everything is okay," Levi said.
"We felt our biggest concern yesterday. Today people feel it's behind them and they can resume their routine. In my opinion, those who come here want to show their support for the State of Israel."
Another El Rom's resident said she sent her children to school with no fear. "We are not scared and continue with life as usual. Once in a while, the air raid siren goes off, and then we go into the security room. This is how we live here and that's that."
El Rom's security coordinator, Motti Fiada, described Wednesday night's events. "Air raid sirens began going off around midnight. Rockets were fired, most of them were intercepted, and we heard the IDF retaliate.
"Naturally, due to past experience, our residents are well trained and know how to protect themselves," he said.
"We all went into the security rooms and followed the Home Front Command and Golan Heights Regional Council's instructions," Fiada elaborated.
"We operated like a well-oiled machine, and luckily the whole event ended quickly and easily. The mental strength our residents show is unique and its effect is evident. Our children went to school this morning, farmers are working in the fields since dawn. We resumed our routine completely and expect many visitors during the weekend," Fiada explained.
"The residents are not indifferent, but are very far from being hysterical. We keep practicing entering safe zones and this is exactly what we'll do during the night," he concluded.
