Israelis look from an Israeli army post near the village of Buqaata in the occupied Golan Heights at the nearby Syrian village of Jebata al-Khashab. (AFP)

July 25, 2012

Israeli tourists are flocking to vantage points in the Golan Heights to take a glimpse of ongoing battle in Syrian, the Times of Israel reported on Tuesday.

The report got a lot of attention following the visit of Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak to Golan Heights to personally witness the escalating battle in the war-torn neighboring country. Local TV channels aired images of the minister watching the shelling of Jobata al-Khashab across the Syrian border.

According to the Israeli newspaper, an increasing number of Israelis could be seen, carrying binoculars and cameras, visiting the Golan Heights to watch the ongoing clashes.

The war-watchers had to content themselves with listening to the sound of explosions and exchange of gunfire, which were more common reported by Hurriyet Daily News.

Tour group operators reportedly said they would begin including watching the Syrian clashes on their tours, according to the report.

An Israeli police allegedly said that the force is doing its best to keep the watchers away from sensitive army installations along the border.

Source