The Palmach's Treks
At the beginning of training, every unit commander would organize a trek for his fighters.
Since the founding of the Palmach, its commanders and soldiers attached great importance to military hikes conducted within the framework of the various units. Each military trek was an organized operation, with soldiers advancing to a defined target, and each Palmach unit conducting separate treks.
Treks began immediately upon establishment of the first units of the Palmach. At that stage, these treks were sporadic and unorganized, and were carried out in the region surrounding the members' places of residence. Each unit commander would organize his soldiers for the trek, according to his understanding and at his discretion.
Over time, the concept was refined. Treks became more organized, were conducted in more well defined paths, and some were very long. These were usually called "the long treks".
Treks were planned for a specific length of time – from one day to several days, and unit commanders who organized the treks perceived them as an integral part of the training and formation plans for the units they commanded. There were even treks that turned into the symbol of unit consolidation and unity. After fighters completed these treks, they felt that they had concluded a stage of their training.
Over time, the military treks turned into an integral part of the training and folklore of Palmach units. Trek routes evolved into traditions, and some of the legendary routes were to Masada and the Judean Desert, a trek around Jerusalem to Gush Etzion and a trek to the northern region (Galilee and valleys).
Treks began immediately upon establishment of the first units of the Palmach. At that stage, these treks were sporadic and unorganized, and were carried out in the region surrounding the members' places of residence. Each unit commander would organize his soldiers for the trek, according to his understanding and at his discretion.
Over time, the concept was refined. Treks became more organized, were conducted in more well defined paths, and some were very long. These were usually called "the long treks".
Treks were planned for a specific length of time – from one day to several days, and unit commanders who organized the treks perceived them as an integral part of the training and formation plans for the units they commanded. There were even treks that turned into the symbol of unit consolidation and unity. After fighters completed these treks, they felt that they had concluded a stage of their training.
Over time, the military treks turned into an integral part of the training and folklore of Palmach units. Trek routes evolved into traditions, and some of the legendary routes were to Masada and the Judean Desert, a trek around Jerusalem to Gush Etzion and a trek to the northern region (Galilee and valleys).