Liad Harel
Metula – The northernmost village in Israel
“For me, Metula was love at first sight. Even before October 7th, my wife and I had decided to move here, despite the fact that it meant living at the northernmost edge of the country – we are much closer to Beirut than to Tel Aviv. Living here comes with significant security implications, which existed long before October 7th.
But despite the serious security risks, the landscapes and the unique atmosphere outweighed everything. We found a beautiful spot with a breathtaking view overlooking the entire Hula Valley, and I thought to myself that everyone should be able to enjoy this beauty. At that moment, I decided that I would build a cozy guest cabin with a big window facing the most beautiful view in the country. That’s also how we decided to name the cabin – “A Window to the Valley.”
I didn’t get far with the construction before the war broke out. Metula became a closed military zone, and I was called up for 400 days of reserve duty. I knew that as long as Metula remained closed, I would stay in uniform – because for me, this wasn’t just a war; it was about protecting my home.
In its 128-year history, Metula had never been evacuated, but the recent war left little choice. Metula is essentially a peninsula at the northernmost tip of Israel, almost entirely surrounded by Lebanon – making it an easy target and a perfect shooting range for rockets.
During the war, Metula became the most heavily bombed town in Israel, with over 2,200 launches of anti-tank missiles, mortars, and rockets that destroyed more than 60% of the houses in the village. It turned into a deserted ghost town. But only in the past few months have residents slowly begun to return.
Now, I, too, am returning to Metula with my wife Gal, and my little son Yuval to restore this place I am so deeply connected to and to continue building the guest cabin that has become the project of my life. I believe that by the summer of 2025, I will be able to open the cabin to guests and showcase Metula’s beauty, resilience, and revival. There is still a lot of work ahead, but I am more optimistic than ever.
For more information on Liad guest house in Metula:
http://metulazimmer.com/