Golan Heights (MiddleEastNews.com) - It has been 33 years for residents
of this strategic hills away from home. During the 1967 six days war between
Syria and Israel, the Golan Heights was captured and occupied. The Syrian
residents who were stranded behind enemy lines and some have become Israeli
citizens are now longing to unite with the rest of Syria as hopes for new
peace which includes the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from here.
In interviewing most residents here, we found unease of transfer, the older
generation are eager to unite, while some of the younger generation (35 and
under) are unease with the whole concept of being liberated.
Saed M.... 29 a Druze, who is now in the Israeli Army, told our Interviewer,
"This whole thing about returning back the land it means a lot to my dad
and mom but to me, I don't know, I was raised within this territory as an
Israeli citizen, I know Tel Aviv more than I know Damascus, it's going to
be hard to adjust". This sentiment expressed from this young Syrian-Israeli
young man is wide spread in the Golan.
Throughout the last 33 years occupation, the Golan Heights were calm comparing
to the raging mini-war in neighboring Lebanon, The Lebanese Resistance made
it hard for the Israeli to stay there, however in the Golan there is no
comparison, it is not hard to count the number of disturbance that came out
from these minority groups.
Pierre Ghanem, Middle East News & World Report Analyst commented by citing
while in Lebanon, Israel is militarily suffering due to a political climate,
and also due to the Lebanese Resistance determination to get rid of the Israeli
occupier. However, the resistance in the Golan Heights, was conducted through
intelligence gathering" he added.
There are other issues that might complicate any peace settlements, water,
early warning stations, settlements, and the amnesty and pardon of Syrians
who have cooperated with Israel during this 33 years period.
Israel is demanding that any Golan territory it hands back to Syria exclude
the area around the Hatsbani, Dan and Banias rivers. The water runs into
the Sea of Galilee, Israel's main source of drinking water. Many analysts
believe that Syrian president Hafez Assad whose eager to achieve peace and
return the Golan in his life time has worked out a formula that might be
acceptable to the Israelis.
For the early warning stations, peace process insider indicates that Syria
agreed to allow Israeli Aerial surveillance over the Golan Heights, but no
fixed stations on the ground.
Most residents feel confident that they will be treated fairly and with respect
from their Syrian government whenever the complete withdrawal occurs, regardless
of how the young generation feels now.
The Golan Heights has a population of 18,000 citizens mostly from Syria's
minority Druze and Alwaite sects. Syria has a population
of over 16 million citizens. |
