12/05/09 (Wednesday)
Today I followed my mother’s conference delegates (engineering) to Qunaitra, the Capital City of Golan Heights. Little I know about this place and this is the first time I heard about the tragedy and conflicts which has occurred in this place few years back.
The Golan Heights has different names (Hebrew: רמת הגולן / Ramat HaGolan, Arabic: هضبة الجولان/ Haḍbatu 'l-Jawlān or مرتفعات الجولان / Murtafaʕātu 'l-Jawlān). It is a strategic place for plantation and mountainous region at the southern end of the Anti-Lebanon Mountains. Previously it was popular for its black stones, rocks used in buildings and house decorations. Currently, it is considered as ‘no man’s land’ and currently under United Nation control, who conserves the security of the areas and still being hotly contested land between Syria and Israel. No outsiders can enter this area except with permission and escort. And we got the privilege as we got chance to meet the Syrian government there and being escort by policemen throughout.
Geographically, Golan plateau encompasses about 1,800 km2 and lies within borders of Syria, Israel, Lebanon and Jordan.
Politically it is an area of disputed sovereignty, 1,200 km2 areas. Initially it was the Syrian territory from 1944 until being captured by Israel on 9-10 June 1967 during the Six-Day War. Since then, the area has remained under Israeli control but a portion was later returned to Syria in 1973. In 1981, the area was annexed by Israel, a move not recognized and condemned internationally and called "inadmissible" by the UN Security Council.
While in the place, we go to see the remaining buildings and houses destroyed by the Israelis. It was heart-broken to see the demolishment done to the areas. The hospital (Golan Mustashfaa) which was occupied with 400 beds and 4 surgical operations was being targeted place of shooting by the heartless Israelis armies. We could see the effects of bullets and firearms shooting along the building’s wall. I can’t imagine how terrified was at that war time.
In 2006, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution calling on Israel to end its occupation of the Golan, while declaring all the legislative and administrative measures taken by Israel in the Golan null and void. Statistically now, there are 40,000 people staying in Golan Heights: half are Arabs and the remaining halve are the incoming Jews in 42 placements (July 2008). Though the Israelis agreed to return the occupied territory to Syrian government but they want to take the water source. This is clearly injustice and obviously not agreed by the Syria as the whole areas was actually claimed to be theirs.
While on the way back, we’ve got to see the tall Jabal Shaikh, which got ice that never melt on its top most. There are many green plantations of weeds, fruits and vegetables along the way. Now I know why Syria is called as one of the largest and richest oasis in the world. And that’s may be the reason of usurpation of Golan Heights between Syria and Israel.
Source:
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golan_Heights
- SYRIA Bumi Barakah - Malaysian Student Association In Syria
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