Shouting Hill
Coordinates: 33°16′09″N 35°46′56″E / 33.26917°N 35.78222°E
The Shouting Hill is a hill in the Israeli controlled portion of the Golan Heights. The hill is situated near the Druze village of Majdal Shams in the area of the Golan that is occupied by Israel. During the Six Day War, Israel captured the majority of the heights. The Shouting Hill is located just close to the ceasefire line that separates Syrian controlled territory and the territory occupied by Israel.[1]
The Druze community members of the Golan Heights were separated after the war. Very few visits were allowed between the families from both sides of the ceasefire line. Israel and Syria are still in an official state of war. There is also no telecommunications or mail allowed between the sides. So, some families started to come to this hill from both sides of the border to see and talk (actually shout) to their relatives on the other side. The families usually use a megaphone in their shouting.
However, with the advent of mobile phones, people don't do this as often,[2] except on special occasions like weddings or when they want to see each other and they use binoculars.
The hill is close to Majdal Shams, at the foot of Mount Hermon, separated from the village by a valley. On the Israeli-occupied side there is security zone that stretches over the valley next to the village, then there is the Syrian controlled side with a UN observation post. It is 1100 meters high. The shouting point is 3 km away from the nearest homes of Majdal Shams and 2.5 km away from the border line.
The Shouting Hill has become a minor tourist attraction.