During our journey of life, we meet few obstacles and have to face many difficult situations. But how hard it is when we face something that people call it the impossible and consider it the greatest challenge ever.
“The Unbreachable Line” is a phrase repeated by the enemy and all the experts as well. Nevertheless, despite the horrible catastrophes and ordeals they had faced, Egyptians learned from stories engraved in their memory of their inherited history, that the Egyptians are unyielding too and their history is being studied all over the world.
On the commemoration of glorious October victories, we recall the heroic stories of our genius, brave and loyal soldiers who challenged the greatest fortification in our modern age.
Bar Lev line was built, according to the suggestion of the late chief of staff at that time, Haim Barlev, in order to protect the Israeli soldiers who captured the Sinai Peninsula on 5th of June, 1967.
The line costed around $500 million in 1973 and Israel launched propaganda campaigns calling it “The unbreachable line”! Many said that it resembled the Maginot Line built by the French during World War.
It is placed along the eastern part of the canal line till 12 Km deep Sinai Peninsula . The sand wall, which varied in height from 18-22 meters contained 20 strongpoints guarded by a platoon of 15 soldiers whose main duty was to inform of any attempt to cross the Canal. The Israelis installed an underwater pipe system to pump flammable crude oil into the Suez Canal, thereby creating a sheet of flame making it impossible to cross. However, Egyptians as usual are the compellers of the impossible; they remembered their golden heroic history and decided to repeat it.
Crossing the Canal redeemed a formidable task that may cost sacrificing the souls and the honor of our nation. The Canal could have turned at any moment to a lake of flames, not to mention the challenge of crossing the sand wall that resembled 6-floor building.
The image of the Egyptian soldier crossing the Canal carrying his country’s flag proves that the legend of the “unbreachable line” is unreal and asserts the belief that Egyptians never yield.
As mentioned by one of the heroes who crossed the Canal that there was an accurate plan of attack. Groups of soldiers crossed the canal to close the napalm tubes and seized the stores of explosives along with its designer too!
As for the sand wall, the genius military engineers were able to blast 3 million cubic meters of sand by pumping water in high pressure to penetrate the sand wall making thousands of gaps then building bridges inside gaps for the heavy artillery to cross in less than 6 hours.
Many significant lessons we can learn from that great victory, most importantly is that there is nothing can be described as unbreachable or invincible. Determination and accurate planning turn the impossible into possible. Our brave soldiers and their leaders have concentrated on one goal and they did their best sparing no effort to achieve it according to a scholarly-developed ingenious plan.
We should gratefully be reminded of the patriotic efforts of our armed forces in keeping our country eminent and free in addition to supporting our nation under the leadership of our patriotic General “Abdel Fattah el-Sisi” who carries on his shoulder the noble goal of serving our country’s interest and asserting the public will according to his wise and quick decisions at the decisive moments that our country went through.
Glorious October victories should inspire all Egyptians to work for the sake of their country in order to restore its glory and high status among nations and prove that Egyptians will remain unyielding.
General Bishop
Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center
