Vacationing in the Golan Heights.
Vacationing in the Golan Heights.Israel news photo: Flash 90

The police denied Monday reports that the Golan Heights would be closed to holiday tourists on the Shavuot holiday, because of tension on the northern border.

Lt. Col. Yehuda Maman, spokesman for the police’s Northern District, said that “there is no such intention and there never was one.” 
“Only if there are harsh clashes or riots like yesterday, will we prevent tourists from coming close to those places – like Majdal Shams or Kuneitra. Having said that, we believe calm will soon return to the sector.”
 
While most visitors to parks and hiking trails are secular, religious holiday visitors are more likely to spend the holiday at friends' homes or at "tzimmer"-type bed & breakfast accomodations. 
 
IDF Chief of General Staff Lt. Col. Benny Gantz visited the Northern Command HQ and met with the Head of Northern Command, Maj. Gen. Gadi Eizenkot, as well as Commander of Ga’ash Formation, Brig. Gen. Eyal Zamir. 
 
The two officers gave Gantz a full briefing on Sunday’s events, as well as outlined the current deployment and the lessons learned from the events on all levels.