Day 12 - July 17th

Back to Jerusalem. Planning on a light day after yesterday's action packed day. We visit The Ammunition Hill Museum. Great story about the museum.

During the Six Day War in June 1967, one of Israel's glorious victories was the battle to reunite Jerusalem. Ammunition Hill was a military post in the northern part of Jordanian controlled East Jerusalem, and the site of one of the fiercest battles of the Six Day War. The post consisted of tens of enforced bunkers built along the three main trench systems surrounding the hill, with fortified gun emplacements covering each trench. The living quarters for the Jordanian defenders of the hill were in a large underground bunker now housing the museum.

Israeli command decided to forgo an aerial attack due to the proximity of civilians. They also underestimated the number of Jordanian soldiers. These decisions resulted in heavy casualties and tremendous act of heroism by the Israeli paratroopers in charge of the attack.

The museum consists of the actual battleground with the trenches, bunkers and some weapons in place, a museum, a theater and a small amphitheater.

We start with the theater which shows a movie about the battle with a corresponding model of the city of Jerusalem which interacts with the movie. The movie is very inspiring.

The museum has some great photos, tributes to all the soldiers who died in the battle and a display of some of the weapons used during the battle. It also had reproductions of letters to friends and family members from the soldiers who died. It brings tears to my eyes to think about the sacrifices made. Check out the pictures I have on-line. There is a famous one of the Israeli soldiers at The Western Wall. Look at the hope and pain in their eyes.

After reading about the battle in the museum and watching the movie, we walk around the battlefield. Looking over Jerusalem, the hill is really quiet and serene. I could imagine how difficult it was to take the hill. This turns out to be one of my favorite places of trip.

A short but inspiring day.