Golan Heights Dispute | U.S, Israel and Syria
The Golan Heights, or simply the Golan, is a region in the Levant, spanning about 1,800 square kilometres. as a geopolitical region, the Golan Heights is the area captured from Syria and occupied by Israel during the Six-Day War, territory which Israel effectively annexed in 1981. This region includes the western two-thirds of the geological Golan Heights and the Israeli-occupied part of Mount Hermon.
Timeline of the Golan Heights dispute | UPSC – IAS
The Golan Heights were part of Syria until 1967.
In 1967, Israel occupied the Golan Heights, West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip in the 1967 (most of the area) in the Six Day War.
Syria tried to regain the Golan Heights during the 1973 Middle East war. Syria was defeated in its attempt and all the effort was thwarted.
Both countries signed an armistice in 1974 and a UN observer force has been in place on the ceasefire line since 1974 and the Golan had been relatively quiet since.
In 1981, Israel permanently acquired the territory of the Golan Heights and East Jerusalem (which was not recognized Internationally). An armistice line was established and the region came under Israeli military control.
After annexing the Golan Heights, Israel gave the Druze population the option of citizenship, but most rejected it and still identify them as Syrians.
Mr. Donald Trump is making the possibility of any future peaceful settlement difficult by recognising Israel’s sovereignty, just as he made any future Israeli Palestinian settlement complicated with his decision to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv.
The modern international system is built on sovereignty, and every nation state is supposed to be an equal player before international laws irrespective of its military or economic might.
