60 North American cyclists ride in Golan, Galilee alongside IDF veterans

Journey included hearing personal accounts of conflict from IDF veterans.

By YAAKOV LAPPIN
Updated: OCTOBER 28, 2015 11:09
60 North American cyclists ride in North alongside IDF veterans (photo credit: IDAN PELEG)
60 North American cyclists ride in North alongside IDF veterans
(photo credit: IDAN PELEG)
The spate of ongoing security incidents have not deterred sixty Canadian and American cyclists from taking part in the Ometz Betuna [Courage in Motion 2015] cycling event, which was held in recent days together with dozens of IDF veterans. The event is an initiative of Beit Halochem Canada, the Friends of the Zahal Disabled Veterans, and its Executive Director, Lisa Levy.
IDF veterans from the Zahal Disabled Veterans Organization – Beit Halochem rode with their North American guests on scenic northern roads in the Golan Heights and the Galilee, covering dozens of kilometers a day.
Event organizers had originally feared that the guests would cancel their participation due to security concerns, yet every member of the group showed up for the event and rode their bicycles alongside IDF veterans. Security guards accompanied the cyclists on their journey, which included stopping at historic sites, and hearing personal accounts of conflict from IDF veterans.