Golan Heights | 21 Dec 2024

Source: DD 

Why in News?

The Golan Heights has become a focal point of international attention as Israel announces plans to double its population in the strategically important region.  

What are Key Facts About Golan Heights? 

• Geography: The Golan Heights is a 1,200-square-kilometre rocky plateau in southwestern Syria,  overlooking the Jordan River Valley. 
  • The name "Golan" is derived from the biblical city of refuge, Golan in Bashan, which is mentioned in the Bible. 
  • The Golan is bounded by Mount Hermon (north), the Yarmūk River(south), the Jordan River and Sea of Galilee (west), and the seasonal Wadi Al-Ruqqād (east). 
  • The area is a key source of water for an arid region. Rainwater from the Golan's catchment feeds into the Jordan River. 
• Historical Context: Israel captured most of the Golan Heights from Syria in the 1967 Six-Day War. Syria's attempt to retake it during the 1973 war failed.  
  • In 1974, Israel and Syria signed the Agreement on Disengagement, which established a ceasefire following the Yom Kippur War. 
    • This agreement led to the creation of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) to monitor the ceasefire line in the Golan Heights.  
  • Israel annexed the region in 1981, a move not recognized internationally, though the US acknowledged Israeli sovereignty in 2019. Syria still demands its return. 
• Military Presence: The area remains divided by a United Nations-monitored demilitarized zone (DMZ), with Israeli and Syrian forces separated by the "Area of Separation," a buffer zone created under the 1974 Agreement. 
• Military Significance: The Golan Heights is considered a vital security buffer zone. Israel’s military presence in the area serves as a deterrent against potential threats from Syria and other regional actors.  
  • The plateau’s elevated position allows Israel to monitor movements in both Syria and Lebanon. 

Read more: Conflict between Israel and Syria