Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael - KKL-JNF - On the Trail of Warriors: Lookouts and KKL-JNF Memorial Sites

Yifat Ovadia-Luski: "Forever remember our names – we are obligated to remember those who gave their lives for their homeland. Israeli independence came at the cost of many fallen soldiers and victims of terrorist attacks. They gave their lives in the war for the country, the people and the land, and the least we can do is commemorate them by naming trails and tracks after them. In this project, we pass their legacy and their loyalty to the coming generations by walking the paths of the land they fought for and teaching of their deeds. I am proud of KKL-JNF for leading commemoration projects and call the public to come visit the new trails during Memorial Day and all throughout the year."

Oron Shaul Scenic Lookout

Location: At the southern edge of the Switzerland Forest landscape road.

Description: the Oron Shaul Scenic Lookout is right next to the entrance to the Switzerland Forest landscape road, in a spot where the beautiful landscape of Jordan Valley, the Sea of the Galilee, the Golan Heights and the Hermon Mountain can be seen. It also overlooks the vertical slope of the Switzerland Forest, going all the way down to the Sea of the Galilee. First sergeant Oron Shaul (1993-2014), a resident of Poriah and a fighter at the 13th battalion of the Golani Brigade, was killed during the battle of Shuja'iyya in Gaza as part of Opertation Tzuk Eitan. On July 20, 2014, the IDF forces entered the neighborhood to destroy military infrastructures used by the Hamas terrorist organization, including rocket launchers and smuggling tunnels. Two APCs from an old model ("Zelda" M-113) and of low defensive capability also accompanied the force. One of the APCs got stuck and hit by a rocket. The six fighters in it were killed, and Oron Shaul was declared missing. On July 2014, the IDF declared Oron as a fallen soldier whose burial site is unknown. From the scenic lookout dedicated to the his memory, visitors can see the landscapes he loved and accompanied him as he grew up.

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Oron Shaul Overlook. Photograph: Henya Ziskind

Benaya Scenic Lookout

Location: Naftali Mountain, Upper Galilee

Description: stairs lead to an overlook with a splendid view from the top of the Naftali Mountain of the Hula Valley, the Golan and the Hermon Mountain. The lookout commemorates Major Benaya Rhein, commander of a tank division, who was killed during the Second Lebanon War along with his teammates in the tank.

The lookout is 740 meters above the sea level, near the border fence, in the exact spot where Benaya went to his final rescue mission. Stone steps lead to the lookout's balcony, which is surrounded by plants. The lookout includes a board which provides details of important site in the area, and an audio spot in which visitors can hear Benaya's mother telling her son's story.

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A view from the Benaya Overlook. Photograph: KKL-JNF Photo Archive

Assaf Siboni Scenic Lookout

Location: Near Kibbutz Nir Am, southern coastal plain

Description: Assaf Siboni, a fighter at the NAHAL Infantry Brigade, was killed in the helicopter disaster, which took place on February 4, 1997. Two helicopters on their way to the IDF outposts in southern Lebanon crashed into one another, and 73 soldiers were killed. The scenic lookout, west of the Nir Am reservoir, was built in the memory of Assaf, who was born in the Kibbutz. In the center of the lookout are 20 windpipes that whistle when the wind blows, and their music echoes at the top of the hill. Each pipe represents another year in Assaf Siboni's life. On the railing in front of the reservoir, ceramic tables with paintings of birds have been installed. The lookout provides a view of Gaza, and especially Jabalia which is right in front of it and the city of Gaza on the west.

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Windpipes at the overlook. Photograph: Yaakov Shkolnik

The Ori Ansbacher Trail

Location: Nes Harim

Description: About four years ago, Ori Ansbacher was murdered in a vicious terrorist attack near Ein Ya'el, while sight-seeing in the open nature she loved so much, not far from the Center for Children in Need where she volunteered. After the attack, KKL-JNF Field and Forest Center in Nes Harim has built a special memorial that reflects the unique character and personality of Ori, and will immortalize her love to nature and her song "From Darkness to Light". The memorial consists of a sign with commemorating text, a statue of Ori which gives the impression that she is still there, writing her songs, a special trail with stones that carry the lyrics of her songs, ODT facilities and spots where travelers can sit and relax.