Israel Announces Plans to Double Population in Golan Heights After Fall of Assad Regime: What Does This Mean? Why Are the Golan Heights Important?
The situation regarding the Golan Heights, a long-standing point of conflict between Syria and Israel, has once again come to the forefront following the potential collapse of the Assad regime in Syria.
The Israeli government has approved a plan to double the Israeli population in the Golan Heights, which is under Israeli occupation. A statement from Prime Minister Netanyahu’s office indicated that, “In light of the war and the new front in Syria, a decision was made to strengthen Israeli settlements and the Israeli state in the Golan Heights.”
Prime Minister Netanyahu also stated, “We will continue to solidify, develop, and settle our position there.”
Last week, Netanyahu also declared that the Golan Heights would “forever” belong to Israel.
So, why are the Golan Heights important, and why does Israel claim that this region is “indispensable” to them?
Where Are the Golan Heights and What is Their Historical Importance?
The Golan Heights, located in the mountainous border region between Israel, Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan, has a shoreline along the Sea of Galilee, which lies 212 meters below sea level on the Israeli side.
To the north, the Hermon mountain range, with peaks exceeding 2,800 meters, forms the highest point of the Golan Heights. While the region is rocky, parts of the land are also used for agricultural activities such as viticulture and grazing. Israel occupied the Golan Heights during the Six-Day War in 1967. In 1981, Israel passed a law applying Israeli law to the Golan Heights, effectively annexing the region.
Syria, however, claims the Golan Heights as its own territory.
In 1973, Syria, Egypt, and other Arab countries attacked Israel during Yom Kippur, one of the holiest Jewish holidays. During the Yom Kippur War, Syria managed to regain some parts of the Golan Heights but lost control of the region again as the war continued.
The United Nations (UN) also recognizes the Golan Heights as Syrian territory.
After the flare-up of conflicts, UN peacekeepers (UNDOF) were sent to the Golan Heights in 1974.
UNDOF has become one of the longest-running peace missions of the UN, and the blue-helmeted soldiers have since maintained control of the buffer zone between the Golan Heights and Syria.
A significant portion of the international community, like the UN, does not consider the Golan Heights to be Israeli territory. In 2019, U.S. President Donald Trump signed a declaration recognizing Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights, making the U.S. an exception in this regard.
Strategic Importance of the Golan Heights
The Golan Heights is of military strategic importance to Israel, as it slopes toward both Israel and Syria. Controlling the region prevents attacks on Israel and allows the Israeli army to monitor Syria, including the capital, Damascus, located 60 km away.
Additionally, the Golan Heights is home to important water sources for Israel, such as the headwaters and tributaries of the Jordan River. Along with Israel’s far-right government under Netanyahu, other conservative groups also oppose relinquishing these lands.
Who are the Druze?
About 30,000 Israeli citizens live in 34 villages and towns in the Golan Heights, which are under Israeli occupation, along with approximately 23,000 Druze.
The Druze are an Arab Muslim minority primarily living in Lebanon, Syria, and Israel.
The Druze in the Golan Heights have the right to apply for Israeli citizenship, but only a small number of them do so. The majority consider themselves Syrians and retain Syrian citizenship.
In July, a rocket hit a football field in a Druze village in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, resulting in the deaths of 12 children and young people, with 20 others injured. Israel held Hezbollah responsible for the attack, which further escalated tensions between Hezbollah and Israel.
