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Galilee Panhandle

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Overview

The Galilee Panhandle (Hebrew: אצבע הגליל, Etzba HaGalil (lit. "Finger of the Galilee"), is an elongated geopolitical area or "panhandle" in northern Israel comprising the northernmost section of the Upper Galilee, and the northern Jordan Rift Valley. The Galilee Panhandle incorporates five municipal authorities. Towns in the Galilee Panhandle include Metula and Kiryat Shmona.

The ancient site of Tel Dan is located in the Galilean panhandle.

Facts

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Source

WBP almanac

External sources

Wikivoyage Wikipedia

Media

From Wikipedia353 words

WBP editorial3

Borderland character

The Panhandle’s position at the convergence of Israel, Lebanon and Syria gives it a layered cultural texture that feels more like a crossroads than a homogeneous district. Small family farms cling to the slopes, while the nearby Mevo’ot HaYarden nature reserve hosts seasonal migrations of raptors, offering bird‑watchers a quiet spectacle far from the usual tourist routes. The area’s mixed linguistic landscape—Hebrew, Arabic and a sprinkling of French from older Lebanese families—means that a coffee break can turn into an impromptu lesson in regional history, as locals exchange anecdotes about the shifting front lines that defined the 20th‑century map.

Travel craft: getting there

Most visitors arrive via the Haifa‑Kiryat Shmona highway, but the most rewarding approach is to rent a compact car and follow the winding side roads that peel away from the main artery. These lanes snake through orchards of apples and citrus, punctuated by roadside stalls selling freshly pressed pomegranate juice. Stop at the small kibbutz roadways early in the morning; the light filters through almond trees and the air carries a faint scent of thyme, ideal for photography that captures the region’s understated drama. Remember to carry a spare tyre—the terrain can be unpredictable after a rain, and service stations are few.

More in cities0

While Tel Dan dominates the archaeological conversation, the lesser‑known ruins of Qasr al‑Yahud on the Jordan’s western bank provide a contemplative alternative. The site is accessible via a modest hike that follows ancient water channels, revealing layers of Roman and Byzantine masonry hidden beneath soft limestone. Pair this with a late‑afternoon dip in the nearby hot springs, and you have a tranquil itinerary that sidesteps the typical crowd. The experience is enhanced by an occasional glimpse of Israeli‑Lebanese border patrols, a reminder that the landscape is still very much a living, negotiated space.

Introduction

Geopolitical area in north-eastern Israel A sketch with marked mountainous parts of the Galilee and its "panhandle" The Galilee Panhandle marked in red. The Galilee Panhandle (Hebrew: אצבע הגליל, Etzba HaGalil (lit. "Finger of the Galilee"), is an elongated geopolitical area or "panhandle" in northern Israel comprising the northernmost section of the Upper Galilee, and the northern Jordan Rift Valley. The Galilee Panhandle incorporates five municipal authorities. Towns in the Galilee Panhandle include Metula and Kiryat Shmona. The ancient site of Tel Dan is located in the Galilean panhandle.

History

[edit] In 1920, the Sykes-Picot Treaty was amended to transfer areas of Jewish settlement from the territory of the French Mandate for Syria and the Lebanon to that of the British Mandate for Palestine. From April 1924, the area came under British control. An agreement was reached which enabled cultivation on both sides of the border with taxes being distributed between the British and French mandate authorities. The boundary was problematic, strategically and politically, but harnessing water sources in this region was vital for the development of the country. During Operation Yiftah in April and May 1948, the Arabs living in the Galilee Panhandle and the other Shia villages in Palestine were expelled by Palmach forces. Cross-border raiding and rocket attacks from Lebanon have been an ongoing problem for communities in the Galilee Panhandle In November 2011, rockets were fired into Israel, landing near the border. The incident was called "a dangerous reminder" of the 34-day war in 2006 against Iranian- and Syrian-backed Hezbollah forces in Lebanon. During the Israel–Hezbollah war that began in October 2023, the Galilee Panhandle, due to its proximity to the Lebanese border, was repeatedly targeted by Hezbollah rocket, missile, and anti-tank attacks, prompting frequent air-raid sirens, evacuations, and significant military responses as part of the northern front of the conflict.

Galilee Panhandle

Borderland character

Travel craft: getting there

Beyond the main sites