Shamir, Israel

Shamir
Shamir
Coordinates: 33°9′55.43″N 35°39′38.51″E / 33.1653972°N 35.6606972°ECoordinates: 33°9′55.43″N 35°39′38.51″E / 33.1653972°N 35.6606972°E
Region Upper Galilee
Affiliation Kibbutz Movement
Founded 1944
Founded by Romanian Hashomer Hatzair members
Website www.shamir.org.il

Shamir (Hebrew: שָׁמִיר) is a kibbutz in Upper Galilee area of Israel. Located on the western slopes of the Golan Heights, it falls under the jurisdiction of Upper Galilee Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 608.

History

The kibbutz was established in 1944 by a small group of mainly Romanian immigrants. The first-generation settlers were members of the Marxist Zionist youth movement Hashomer Hatzair.

Following the 1948 Arab-Israeli War the UN-established border between Israel and Syria was drawn to run only a few hundred yards east of the kibbutz.

Terror attack

Memorial for Edna, Shoshana and Judi

On Thursday, June 13, 1974, four PF-GC[1] terrorists infiltrated the Lebanon-Israel border and invaded Kibbutz Shamir. They entered one of the buildings shooting Edna Mor (who was Pregnant) and Shoshana Galili. Edna left behind a child and husband who moved out of the kibbutz shortly after. The terrorists continued shooting at random. Judi Sinton, a volunteer from New Zealand, on her way back to the apiary after breakfast, was shot by a terrorist and killed. The members of the kibbutz seized their weapons and ran in the direction from where gun fire was heard. In the gun battle that followed all four terrorists were killed.

Later that year, Judy's boyfriend Jonathan arrived from New Zealand on Shamir and planted three pine trees in commemoration of Judy and the other two kibbutz members. Edna was 28 years old, Shoshana 58 and Judy 18.

The terrorists' aim was to take Israeli hostages in return for 100 jailed terrorists. Their written message ends: "We love to die, as you love to live.".[2] The artist Avraham Eilat who was at that time a member of the kibbutz documented the event.

Economy

As of 2006, Shamir is one of the most prosperous kibbutzim in Israel, producing honey, toiletries, and advanced optical products. The optical enterprise, Shamir Optical Industry, is a fully incorporated stock company and is quoted on NASDAQ.

The kibbutz also earns money from tourism; it offers views of Mount Hermon to the north and the Hula Valley below the kibbutz. A relatively rare phenomenon can be observed from Shamir – a "sunrise in the west." As the kibbutz is nested in the steeply-rising western slopes of the Golan, when the sun rises, its first rays at daybreak illuminate the peaks of the Ramim mountain range across the valley to the west of Shamir. As the sun climbs progressively higher, more of Ramim is bathed in sunshine, which can then be observed progressing from west to east, down the slopes of Ramim, across the valley and up the slopes of the Golan before reaching the kibbutz.

Of notable interest in the kibbutz are some 3rd century border stones with Greek inscriptions and several dolmens in the vicinity of the kibbutz.

Wildlife

Local wildlife includes jackals, hyenas, wild cats, snakes, scorpions and vultures.

Notable residents


Gallery

References

  1. ↑ "Armed Struggle and the Search for State", Y. Sayigh, p.341
  2. ↑ CBS evening news Jun 13, 1974 Vanderbilt Television News Archive

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Shamir.