

Hermonit overlooks the new Quneitra where rebels and Assad’s army conduct daily battles. South of it is the “booster” hill and then mounts Bental (I reviewed it separately) and mount Avital, twins that overlook old Quneitra, the former Syrian capital of the Golan. Mount Hermonit (Little Hermon) is one of the strategic basalt mounts dotting the Golan Heights, roughly on a North-South line from the Hermon range to where the Golan’s plateau ends, and is located off Route 98. The movie is very moving and points the resilience of so few who fought off enormous numbers of superior forces. Nearby is the Valley of Tears Memorial Center where one can view a movie dedicated to the battle showing actions and activities of both the IDF and the Syrians during this altercation. The names of the Israeli IDF "tankers" lost in this battle are etched on a granite memorial. However, the Syrians lost over 350 of their 1000 tanks in this battle. Israel lost 40 of the 44 tanks (one of which was captained by Yoni Netanyahu (the present Prime Minister's son). The first generation of the Israeli Merkava tank is also present here. Sherman and Russian tanks scattered amongst the redoubts, and tank trenches there. In addition, there are British Centurian, U.S. Muzzles from some of the tanks are displayed here along with hatch covers, chains and other military paraphernalia. The Valley of Tears commemorates where 44 Israeli tanks held off over 1000 Syrian tanks from entering Israel and saved the nation from destruction during the Yom Kippur War.
