Firing zone
Hi,
We spent most of the military reserve training periods in firing zones. Those are areas the IDF is using for training (either for shooting or just for practicing).
Most of the firing zones are in the Negev Desert (as well in the Judean desert). And there are also many firing zones in the Golan heights. I think that most of the Golan Heights are also firing zones.
It means that most of the beautiful areas of hiking in Israel (either in the north or in the south) are forbidden hiking.
But there sometimes you can hike in those places, mainly on weekends and on holidays. But even then, you should check with IDF, and be careful as you can still find ammunition of many kinds in those areas.
There are also other places in the center of Israel used for firing zones. I think the biggest one is around Bet Guvrin, where we trained for our military reserve in South Mount Hebron. I remember this area from the time I was just a small kid. We were hiking with my parents and friends of the family around the 2nd Temple time tombs.
At some point, I heard my parents talking we are hiking on firing zone. I think I was about 6 years old, and I freaked out from that point on. All I care about from that point on was that we would leave the place as soon as possible.
Take Care
Gad
A warning sign on the entrance to to one of the firing zones in Golan Heigths
Armored D9 bulldozer and a bridge it is about to carry in the training today.
Looking west from the Golan Heights over the over the tanks and down on Hula lake
Looking North over the area and up to Mount Hermon
A map showing the zones used by the IDF