The Jordan Valley Monument
On a hill overlooking Highway 90 and near Moshav Yafit, is a striking military memorial commemorating soldiers who lost their lives combating armed infiltrations from Jordan and defending Israeli communities established in the Jordan Valley, and particularly those who died in the “Period of Pursuits.” A list of over 400 soldiers killed in attacks following the Six-Day War and subsequent military operations in the region is etched in stone next to the monument.
The monument, which looks like a giant anti-aircraft gun pointing to the sky, was designed by the artist Yigal Turmakin and was constructed from old parts of armored vehicles, tanks and guns. The weapon points upwards, rather than towards an identifiable enemy. This gives it a symbolic quality beyond the immediate military history. It can be interpreted as representing: the dangers faced by soldiers defending the frontier, the military character of the period, the sacrifices made by those who died, and the continuing need to defend the country's eastern approaches. Part of the monument is an observation platform that provides an extensive view over the Jordan Valley.
Within the adjoining park are plaques with the names of the twenty-one communities established here. Some are named after soldiers killed in the area (such as Argamon, an acronym of two commanders), while others have Biblical names (Gilgal, Patzael, and Gitit).
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Directions: Enter “Habika Memorial” into Waze and click on “אנדרטת הבקעה.” The turn off from Route 90 is shortly after Tzomet P’zael and Route 505 and shortly before the Delek gas station at Mifgash Habika. There is a paved road up to the monument. The first gate may be locked. If so, call the number provided. If it remains closed, continue to the second gate and a path leads to the monument.
Admission: There is no admission charge.
The War of Attrition
Following the Six-Day War, Israel took control of the entire West Bank, including the Jordan Valley, which had previously been under Jordanian control. The Jordan River now formed Israel's eastern boundary with Jordan. However, the situation was far from peaceful. During the years immediately following the war, armed Palestinian organizations, particularly Fatah and other groups associated with the PLO, established bases in Jordan. They used Jordanian territory as a staging ground for infiltrations into Israel, with the intention of carrying out attacks against Israeli military and civilian targets. In the War of Attrition, between 1967-1970, many attempts were made by Arab terrorists to infiltrate into Israel. This area of the Jordan Valley became known as the “Land of Pursuits” because the Israel Defense Force successfully pursued infiltrators deep into Jordan to prevent them from crossing over the river.
The infiltration problem diminished following the events of September 1970 in Jordan, known as Black September. King Hussein's government moved against the Palestinian armed organizations, which had established an increasingly autonomous military presence within Jordan and were challenging the authority of the Jordanian state. The Jordanian army expelled the PLO's armed forces from the country, and many of their members subsequently relocated to Lebanon. This substantially reduced the threat of armed infiltration across the Jordan River. Following this, King Hussein also made efforts to develop his side of the Jordan Valley economically by bringing non-Palestinians in and supporting them financially.