Shlomo Gur (Gerzovsky) (; 1913–2000), founding member of
Kibbutz Tel Amal, is credited with creating and then managing the construction of 57
''homa u'migal'' (
tower
A tower is a tall Nonbuilding structure, structure, taller than it is wide, often by a significant factor. Towers are distinguished from guyed mast, masts by their lack of guy-wires and are therefore, along with tall buildings, self-supporting ...
and
stockade
A stockade is an enclosure of palisades and tall walls, made of logs placed side by side vertically, with the tops sharpened as a defensive wall.
Etymology
''Stockade'' is derived from the French word ''estocade''. The French word was derived f ...
settlements) during the
1936–39 Arab revolt in Palestine. Following the establishment of the state of
Israel
Israel, officially the State of Israel, is a country in West Asia. It Borders of Israel, shares borders with Lebanon to the north, Syria to the north-east, Jordan to the east, Egypt to the south-west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. Isr ...
, he was project manager of the
Hebrew University
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJI; ) is an Israeli public research university based in Jerusalem. Co-founded by Albert Einstein and Chaim Weizmann in July 1918, the public university officially opened on 1 April 1925. It is the second-ol ...
, the
National Library
A national library is a library established by a government as a country's preeminent repository of information. Unlike public library, public libraries, these rarely allow citizens to borrow books. Often, they include numerous rare, valuable, ...
and the
Knesset
The Knesset ( , ) is the Unicameralism, unicameral legislature of Israel.
The Knesset passes all laws, elects the President of Israel, president and Prime Minister of Israel, prime minister, approves the Cabinet of Israel, cabinet, and supe ...
.
In summer 1936, the expanding Arab revolt endangered the Jewish population of
Beit She'an Valley. Concerned with safety and security, Shlomo Gur and other members of Kibbutz Tel Amal built the first ''homa u'migal'' settlement. Subsequently, Shlomo Gur consulted
Jerusalem
Jerusalem is a city in the Southern Levant, on a plateau in the Judaean Mountains between the Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean and the Dead Sea. It is one of the List of oldest continuously inhabited cities, oldest cities in the world, and ...
architect
Yohanan Ratner and was provided with blueprints for the other settlements.
[Segal, Rafi & Weizman, Eyal (editors) (2003) ''A civilian occupation. The politics of Israeli architecture''. Verso. . p.54 (Sharon Rotbard)]
Shlomo Gur was the first director of Israel's
Military research department.
Gallery
File:Duff p.192 001.jpg, Preparing the foundations; watch tower being assembled on left; two Palestine Policemen in center.
File:Duff p.204 001.jpg, Fully constructed Homa Umigal in the Galilee
Galilee (; ; ; ) is a region located in northern Israel and southern Lebanon consisting of two parts: the Upper Galilee (, ; , ) and the Lower Galilee (, ; , ).
''Galilee'' encompasses the area north of the Mount Carmel-Mount Gilboa ridge and ...
; drilling for water in foreground.
File:Shavei Tzion wall.jpg, Shavei Tzion under construction.
File:Duff p.154 001.jpg, Gun positions and observation platform.
File:Farago p.209 001.jpg, Wall filled with earth and barbed wire
Roll of modern agricultural barbed wire
Barbed wire, also known as barb wire or bob wire (in the Southern and Southwestern United States), is a type of steel fencing wire constructed with sharp edges or points arranged at intervals along the ...
perimeter fence.
File:Tower and Stockade settlement, aerial view 1938.jpg, Aerial view of Bet Yosef, 1938.
File:Sha'ar Hagolan 004.jpg, Sha'ar Hagolan, Palestine, 1937
File:Sha'ar Ha Golan 003.jpg, The watchtower being erected at Sha'ar Hagolan, 21 August 1937.
See also
*
Tegart fort
References
{{Israel-bio-stub
1913 births
2000 deaths
Israeli architects
Jews from Mandatory Palestine
Kibbutzniks
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
National Library of Israel