Mt. Bental

The Mount Bental overlook is beautiful and provides stunning views of Mount Hermon and the Golan. Located in the Golan Heights, Mount Bental is 1,170 meters above sea level. From the overlook one can see Mount Hermon (3,000 meters above sea level), several Druze villages as well as a network of old bunkers and trenches.  Just to the east of Mount Bental is Syria, with Damascus lying just 60km away.

In the Yom Kippur War of 1973, Mount Bental was the site of one of the largest tank battles in history. Mount Bental is a key strategic point for Israel due to its advantageous observation point. Israel knew it could not risk losing this mountain, nor any of the Golan Heights. The long stretch of valley in between Mount Bental and Mount Hermon became known as the Valley of Tears.