1955 'Amarna' Israeli / Hebrew Board Game and Map

An unusual c. 1955 Israeli boardgame in Hebrew by Amarna. The title transliterates to 'Tuil Behelicopter' or 'A Helicopter Journey.' The game combines a map game with a Hebrew version of Scrabble. Tokens are tiny helicopters. The game is complete with all original instructions, game cards, and tokens present.

The Map

The game is most interesting for the gameboard itself - a large pictorial map of Israel. The map depicts Israel between the Israeli War of Independence (Palestinian War; 1947 - 1949) and the Six-Day War of 1967. It depicts the 1949 Armistice Line, or Green Line, around the West Bank. The Gaza Strip is ambiguously rendered, suggesting it is both part of and separate from Israel. As this predates the Six Day War, the Golan Heights remains part of Syria. Within Israel, pictorial elements illustrate flora, fauna, industry, and local history. An Arab camel caravan even crosses the Negev, heading toward a gigantic pipeline irrigating the desert.

Publication History and Census

This game was produced in Tel Aviv in the 1960s by Amarna. It is the only known example.