Golan Heights


The Golan Heights, a rocky plateau in south-western Syria, has apolitical and strategic significance which belies its size.Israel seized the Golan Heights from Syria in the closing stages of the 1967 Six-Day War. Most of the Syrian Arab inhabitants fled the area during the conflict.An armistice line was established and the region came under Israeli military control. Almost immediately Israel began to settle the Golan.

Why in news?

For decades, the United Nations and the United States refused to recognize Israel’s seizure of the Golan Heights and the West Bank in 1967, arguing that the contours of Israel must be negotiated diplomatically.
But President Trump recently tweeted on that “it is time for the United States to fully recognize Israel’s Sovereignty over the Golan Heights,”adding that it was of critical importance to Israel and stability in the Middle East.
And later President Donald Trump has officially recognised Israeli sovereignty over the occupied Golan Heights, seized from Syria in 1967,in a move hailed as “historic” by Israel’s prime minister.

Background – History of dispute and Importance of Golan heights

Syria tried to retake the Golan Heights during the 1973 Middle East war.Despite inflicting heavy losses on Israeli forces, the surprise assault was thwarted. Both countries signed an armistice in 1974 and a UN observer force has been in place on the ceasefire line since 1974.
Israel unilaterally annexed the Golan Heights in 1981. The move was not recognised internationally, although the US Trump Administration did so unilaterally in March 2019.

Location: Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India

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