Moving milestone: Israel’s Ammunition Hill
IT was an opening ceremony steeped in emotion on July 6 at Ammunition Hill, Jerusalem, where almost 50 years ago the blood of 37 young Israeli soldiers was spilt in one of the fiercest and most strategically important battles of the Six-Day War.
The ceremony opened the national heritage site’s new educational walkway and expansion of its Jerusalem Garden that was supported by Harry and Rhonda Triguboff.
The Triguboffs were joined at the ceremony by close friend Shimon Cahaner, who was one of the heroes of the Six-Day War.
At 2am on June 6, 1967, Cahaner was thrust into leading his paratrooper unit in a charge towards the Rockefeller Museum in East Jerusalem after the commander was wounded.
He said he knew at the time that the battle at what is now known as Ammunition Hill “was something historic”.
Ammunition Hill serves as a national memorial to the 182 IDF soldiers who fell during the Six-Day War.
The induction ceremony for IDF paratroopers takes place there, and the site also provides an important opportunity to educate the younger generation about the values that motivated and sustained these young heroes – that the Jewish State is something that must never be taken for granted.
The new facilities at Ammunition Hill were built as a partnership between Keren Hayesod-United Israel Appeal, Ammunition Hill, the Municipality of Jerusalem, the Ministry of Construction and Housing, and the Ministry of Jerusalem and Diaspora Affairs.
UIA NSW CEO Yair Miller thanked the Triguboff family for their generosity.
“Through this project they have ensured that one of the most meaningful symbols in Israel’s military history continues to act as a focus for education and commemoration,” Miller said.
AJN STAFF
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