Israeli Archaeologist Uses Telescope to Reveal Close Proximity of Historic and Modern Sites
During the recent war, 33-year-old Yiftach Eitan, an archaeologist nearing completion of his tour guide training, found himself with less work and much free time in a protected space. Instead of remaining confined indoors, he took a telescope and embarked on a series of fascinating observations across Israel, sometimes even during air raid sirens. His videos, shared online, have garnered tens of thousands of views and evolved into a unique project that connects biblical and historical sites with their real geographic locations, showing how close these places are in the small, conflict-ridden country.
Eitan’s curiosity led him to observe places like Tyre in Lebanon from Haifa’s Stella Maris, spotting buildings across the border during the war. Using basic equipment, a Celestron 102 AZ telescope costing about 1,720 shekels and a smartphone adapter, he captured these views and shared them widely, quickly gaining followers. He also identified distant peaks in the Lebanon mountain range, such as Jabal Sanin, likened to Beirut’s Hermon, emphasizing how the region resembles a small chessboard.
His videos also highlight lesser-known historical layers within Israel, such as ancient Jerusalem beneath the Damascus Gate, and the proximity of sites like Joseph’s Tomb and biblical Shechem from Mount Gerizim. Eitan balances the need for security with his desire to showcase the beauty and depth of these places, aiming to make history tangible and accessible, especially for younger audiences.
Eitan’s observations extend to iconic landmarks like Mount Nebo, visible from north of the Dead Sea, and views from Hod Hasharon toward the West Bank, surprising many Israelis with how close familiar and contested locations really are. For him, these observations are more than geography; they connect stories, history, and heritage, offering a hopeful vision that one day people might look across borders not only from Israel but also from Lebanon toward Israel, transcending political divides on a human level.
