The Issue of Cross-Border Infiltration to Petra by the Young Israelis during the 1950s as Reflected in Modern Hebrew Prose

Abstract

During the first decade following the establishment of “Israel”, Petra (‘The Red Rock’) was perceived in the Israeli consciousness as the most remote, daring, and dangerous place that could be reached. Armed with this perception, fifteen Israeli young men and women crossed the Jordanian border with Petra as their desired destination, but only three returned alive. In its first section, this article outlines the birth and formation of the ‘Red Rock’ myth among the Palmach generation and its adaption by the next generation. The second part is devoted to examining the reasons that prompted those Israelis to undergo the hike to Petra, and how modern Hebrew Literature reflected the episode of hiking to Petra, starting from the first decade following the establishment of “Israel” until the 1990s. The researchers appended their study with a conclusion comprised of the most important results that have been reached.

Keywords: Hikes, Petra, Palmach, Modern Hebrew Prose, Red Rock.

Highlights

• During that decade, thousands of young Israelis dreamed to coming to Petra, but only fifteen of them crossed the Jordanian border with Petra as their desired destination, but only three of them returned alive.
• This study examines the reasons that prompted those Israelis to undergo the hike to Petra. In addition to how Modern Hebrew Literature reflected the episode of hiking to Petra, starting from the first decade following the establishment of the “state of Israel” until the 1990s.
• This study reviews this phenomenon, tries also to shed a light on some questions concerning it, such as: the main reasons that led Israeli youth hike to Petra in 1950s, as well as how did the writers in Modern Hebrew Literature deal with this issue in their literary works?
• Seeing Petra, during Israel’s first decade, was the ultimate dream of the young Israelis. During that period, Petra was a magical-mythical destination, and hiking to it is perceived as reflecting the love of the land and the original connection to the area.