Rajar
In the north, near the Libanese border, stands a small village, with an
interesting history and overwhelming view: Rajar. It's located between K.
Shmona and Dan, and the main road to the village diverges to the left from
the road to Banias, before Tel-El-Faher. (The other road is the fence road...)
The village is located above the river Wazani, which starts in Hatzbaya and
is called there Hatzbani, and after crossing the border is called Snir. The
view above the river is astonishing. The sounds of the water in the small
waterfalls, the birds crossing the canyon rapidly in the air, and the green
woods across the river, make you feel you're in Italy or Zwitzerland. The
most important thing has not yet been said: the inhabitants of this village
are A'lawees, which is a sect in Islam, and are (now) the most important
sect in Syria. By the way, that reminds me that Asad is Alawee (what a
co-incidence...).
In the 6-day war this village fell in the hands of Israel, and this village
had to decide what to do: to join to Lebanon, who was already in a decay
process of a civil war, or to move to Syria, which was by now 40-50km away.
The village decided to choose neither one, but asked to be added to Israel.
Israel was very suspicious, and for a month this village starved for bread
!! Finally Israel accepted this village, and they became citizens. Nevertheless,
on the book "Kol Atar ve-Atar", one of the best sellers in years, this village's
inhabitants appear as dealing with agriculture and (are you sitting?) Drug
Smuggling !!! Of course all this stopped when the village became Israeli,
but untill 1993 you had to give your I.D-card to the I.D.F-post at the entrance
to the village, cross the border, and they give you the I.D-card when you
leave... This is an implanted line: whoever gets here, please return a mail,
and get a chocolate square.
How to get there:
-
From K. Shmona drive East to Banias, and before climbing the Golan turn left.
Drive about 3km to the village.
-
Near Dag-Al-ha-Dan enter a jeep road, which goes to the border road. There
turn right, and drive about 2km on the boarder road. I think the Batashit
commander will shout at you, but the risc is worthy...
What else to see:
-
Banias.
-
Kala't Namrud.
-
Dan.
-
Hatanur Waterfalls (only in the winter/spring).
-
Usishkin Museum.
-
Hah'ula.
Rajar & Dan Springs
Map
