Housing purchases in the Golan Heights will have quintupled over the past
three years, according to official estimates. The Golan Regional Council reports
that the housing campaign entitled, “Connecting to the Dream,” which began
this week, has already shown great success. Hundreds of phone calls have been
received so far, and some 450 new families are expected to move into 20 expanding
communities this year.

In the year 2000, only 26 homes were purchased in the Golan. This number rose
to 90 and 141 in the next two years, and in 2003, it jumped to 230 – and the
goal for this year is 450. The two-year drive to increase the Golan’s
population is multi-directed. For example, the Golan’s only city, Katzrin, is billed
as a “city in nature,” with the uniqueness of a country town with high-quality
community services.

The religious-Zionist public, as well, is the object of a focused campaign.
“The Golan: A Community with Roots” is the motto of a drive to strengthen the
several religious towns in the Golan, such as Keshet, Nov, Hispin and Avnei
Eitan.

An example of a dizzying success is Had-Nes in southern Golan, which sold 40
of 43 plots in just three weeks. Matzok Orvim (Ravens Cliff) in the northern
Golan is the choice of dozens of families from throughout the country.

Some 3% of those who called the Golan offices to ask for information on
housing opportunities were from abroad. In some areas, small-business loans of up
to $42,000 are available.

The Golan contains some 30% of Israel’s water resources. Militarily, the area
is of critical value to Israel. In 1973, the mountain ridge of the Hermon,
Hermonit, and Bental in the north down to the Rokad River in southern Golan,
enabled 177 Israeli tanks to fend off a surprise attack by 1,400 Syrian tanks,
despite the failure of Israel’s sophisticated – human and electronic -
early-warning system.

This entry was posted on Thursday, April 22nd, 2004 and is filed under news.