Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced plans to double the population of the Golan Heights. The proposal includes infrastructure investments to encourage Israeli settlement in the region.
- Israeli troops have taken control of the demilitarized buffer zone established under the 1974 Israel-Syria Disengagement Agreement, intensifying its control over the region.
About Golan Heights
- Geography and Location:
- The Golan Heights is a rocky plateau of approximately 1,000 square miles, situated in southwest Syria.
- It borders Israel, Lebanon, and Jordan, and lies about 40 miles (60 kilometers) from Syria’s capital, Damascus.
- Geographically, the Golan is bounded by the Jordan River and the Sea of Galilee on the west, Mount Hermon on the north, the seasonal Wadi Al-Ruqqād (a north-south branch of the Yarmūk River) on the east, and the Yarmūk River on the south.
- History of Occupation:
- 1967 Six-Day War: Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria during this conflict.
- 1981 Annexation: Israel unilaterally annexed the region, a move condemned by the international community as illegal under United Nations Security Council Resolution 497 (1981).
- Legal and Diplomatic Status:
- The entire international community, except for the United States and Israel, regards the Golan Heights as Syrian territory under Israeli occupation.
- 2019 U.S. Recognition: During Donald Trump’s presidency, the United States became the first and only country to recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights.
- Strategic Importance:
- The Golan Heights is vital for security and water resources.
- It offers a critical vantage point overlooking northern Israel and southwestern Syria.
- The region’s fertile land and water sources are crucial for agricultural and military purposes.
- Opposition to Israeli Sovereignty:
- The UN and most of the international community maintain that Israel’s occupation and annexation of the Golan Heights violate international law.
- Syria continues to claim sovereignty over the region.
- U.S. Support:
- The U.S. recognition of Israeli sovereignty in 2019 marked a significant shift in American foreign policy, aligning closely with Israeli interests.
