Israel’s Alpine troops
President Reuven Rivlin visited the Mount Hermon sector and met with soldiers of the IDF’s Alpinist unit.
President Rivlin with the line troops, Photo Haim Zach
The president was briefed on the unique sector and then spoke at length with GOC Northern Command Maj.-Gen. Amir Baram to be updated on the operational challenges across the command as a whole.
The president made his way to the Alpinists’ hut on a Snow Cat, instead of his regular motorcade. “We Jerusalemites wait all year for white flakes. For us, snow is something out of the ordinary, an excuse to party. But for you, it’s work,” said the president.
The president spoke to the unit’s soldiers, who perform dozens of days of military reserve duties, saying, “The peaks of the Hermon are not snowy all year round, but the threats we face are a constant presence. We must be ready for any scenario and to protect our borders whatever the weather. We cannot leave any point vulnerable, in any circumstance. During our history, we have been surprised more than once. The right way to do things is to be ready for anything, not to say ‘it’ll be OK’, but to predict any surprise and to make sure Israelis are safe. You, ‘the Mountain Patrol’, an elite reserve unit, are responsible for a sensitive point, the triple border with Lebanon and Syria. You ensure the security of the Hermon when it is covered in snow.”
He added: “Our alpine soldiers are also an important operational asset for the State of Israel. You, our veteran alpine reservists, have incredibly valuable knowledge and experience that you bring to the Israeli people and the State of Israel.”
He thanked the soldiers for their dedication and responsibility and the sacrifices their families make.
