56 sites were upgraded in the honor of the heroes and the fallen, among them the 7th Armored Brigade at the Katzabia Junction the 188th Armored Brigade Memorial at Alika, the 679th Armored Brigade Memorial, Tel Saki, Emek HaBakha, Nati Force and more.
During the Sukkot holiday, the project will be inaugurated by Israel's Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant and the Ministry of Defense's General Manager, General (res.) Eyal Zamir, as part of the "In the Footsteps of Soldiers" event.
The Families, Commemoration and Heritage Department at the Ministry of Defense, along with KKL-JNF and the Golan Regional Council have completed the upgrade project of the dozens of memorial for the fallen at the Yom Kippur War in the Golan Heights. The heritage and commemoration sites that tell the stories of the battles and the fallen have been significantly upgraded to mark the 50 years that passed since the war that claimed the lives of 2,689 Israeli soldiers.
The heritage and memorial sites at the Golan Heights became tourism spots and destinations for battle heritage tours for many Israelis. The special project of the Ministry of Defense, KKL-JNF and the Golan Regional Council was meant to preserve the memorials for the coming decades.
Arie Mualem, Deputy Director and Head of the Families, Commemoration and Heritage Department at the Ministry of Defense: "The State of Israel salutes the heroes of the Yom Kippur War, who were brought up on the value of loyalty and acted with extreme dedication to their mission, among them many who did not get to see their country growing. The landscapes of Israel are accompanied with memorials and memorial sites that reflect the terrible price paid for our independence. These sites are considered heritage assets and serve as pilgrimage destinations for the families of the fallen, the public, and tourists from all over the world. To mark 50 years since the war, the Ministry of Defense has contributed, along with KKL-JNF and the Golan Regional Council to the upgrade of the upgrade and accessibility works at the Golan Heights memorial sites."
KKL-JNF Chairwoman, Ifat Ovadia Luski: "We remember the fallen of the Yom Kippur War. Along with the Ministry of Defense and the Golan Regional Council, we have led an important symbolic project of renovating the memorials at the Golan Heights. The fallen soldiers of the IDF made their greatest sacrifice for the state and its people, and the very little we can do for them and their families is to commemorate them. In the upgraded sites, the heritage of the fighters in this terrible war will pass on to future generations."
The Head of the Golan Heights Regional Council, Haim Rokah: "It is all thanks to them. The story of the Yom Kippur War is the story of the bravery and heroism of divisions, brigades, battalions, teams and individuals who made their stand against the waves of Egyptian forces in the South and Syrian forces in the north, and held back the enemy, the few against the many. The story of one lone soldier joins the story of his comrade, and tells the story of this terrible war. In war, 2,689 Israeli heroes have fallen while defending our country and many others were injured, in body and spirit, bearing their scars to this very day. In their death, these heroes protected our lives, and the beautiful Golan Heights, the voices of the children in kindergartens and schools, and the families that ask to join the Golan Heights communities. We must tell the stories of their heroism. The memorial renovation project and the telling of the fighters and military units' heritage, in collaboration with the Ministry of Defense and KKL-JNF brings great honor to each resident in the State of Israel, and certainly to the residents of the Golan Heights."