Lucka 14: The Gholan Heights – Occupied Territory or Simply a War Booty?

The Golan Heights is a region in southwestern Syria controlled by Israel since the Six-Day War of June 1967. Twenty nine years have now gone since the Jewish state officially annexed that strategic Syrian territory on 14 December 1981. Is there still any hope for Syria to recover the Golan Heights?

The strongest always gets the best. While the lion rules in the jungle, Homo sapiens also use their position of power to dominate the weakest, despite the fact that we claim to live in a so called free and democratic world. From the old barbarians to the Vikings, via slave traders, and colonialists up to this contemporary era, anarchy continuously prevails as a constant remorse in our global system.

Peaceful talks and negotiations like the UN Security Council Resolution 242 has so far brought no concrete and positive results in order for Syria to recover its lost piece of land. An attempt to recuperate Golan Heights in 1973 by a strong coalition of Arab armies was utterly neutralized by the Tsahal (Israeli Defensive Forces). The only reality is that Israel in its politics of colonization and occupation made use of its supremacy to officially extend its administration and law to Golan Heights. The Knesset implemented even the so called Golan Heights laws, closing doors for further negotiations with Syria.

It is not everyone who finds a lost wallet who can return it to the owner. If, internationally, many perceive Golan Heights as an occupied territory, Israel simply considers it a sweet booty of war.

Indeed Golan Heights is a strategic point for the Jewish state. The heights give Israel an excellent panoramic view for monitoring Syrian military activities close to the border. Golan Heights topography provides a natural defensible border against invasion by land and any military thrust from Syria. The area is also an important source of water for an arid region. Besides, the land is fertile, with the volcanic soil being used to cultivate orchards, vineyards and even to raise cattle. The Golan is also the only place that the Jews can enjoy skiing.

Certainly it is not easy for Israel to give back such a sweet and potential area. Not today, not tomorrow. History will definitely tell. But with the majority of the Jews who have settled in Golan Heights standing against any decision of displacing them from there and hand over Golan Heights to Syria, hope for Syria to get back the Golan Heights just seems to be a complex puzzle.

by Serge Mukiele