QIRYAT GAT

Qiryat Gat, founded in 1955 as the capital of the Lakhish region, is the heart of an extraordinarily successful settlement scheme. The population has grown to about 48,000 its industrial expansion includes major enterprises such as textiles, cotton and sugar processing.

The settlers came from nearly 40 countries.

When the plans for settlement were drawn up, the odds were weighted heavily against seeing them materialize. The Lakhish area measures over 1,000 sq. km., of which only half is arable. Water was scarce. Adding to the problems were the proposed settlers themselves, who were generally unskilled and from diverse cultural backgrounds. They were divided up into groups according to background to form villages of basically the same pattern and way of life. Immediate social problems were thus minimized. A network of services was placed within easy reach of each group of villages for additional government services the settlers had only to go to nearby Qiryat Gat or Ashqelon. Some well-known companies like Intel, Turbo-Chrome, and Electra are in the process of establishing factories in Qiryat Gat.

Continue along the main road skirting the northern perimeter of Qiryat Gat. Just before the city cemetery a gravel road which you cannot drive on leads to the foot of the historic site of Tel Erani (biblical Gat has not yet been found). This was one of the Philistine cities and may well have been the birthplace of Goliath. Many ancient stone walls can be seen on its western slopes while the view of the lowlands from the summit is exhilarating. The road (No. 35) passes through dozens of hills covered with feathery pines. This is the Hamalakhim (Angels) Forest and you can detour off left where the signpost points to the Sam Gutlin Observation Post.

A couple of kilometres later the signpost directs you to Road No. 3415 (right) to Kibbutz Lakhish and the fortified heights of the adjacent battle site of biblical times. Continue along the road leading up to the kibbutz orchards and stables. Then turn second left up the gravel road to the beginning of the ancient fortifications.