Key Facts about Golan Heights

News: Israel recently announced plans to double the population of its settlements in the occupied Golan Heights.

About Golan Heights

• The Golan Heights is a strategically significant plateau located in southwestern Syria, near the borders of Israel, Lebanon, and Jordan.
• It covers approximately 1,150 square kilometers, stretching 71 km in length and 43 km at its widest point.
• The region overlooks the upper Jordan River valley to the west and is named after the biblical city of refuge, Golan in Bashan.
• It is bounded by:
  • Jordan River and Sea of Galilee to the west
  • Mount Hermon to the north
  • Wadi Al-Ruqqād River to the east
  • Yarmūk River to the south.
• History: The Golan Heights was captured by Israel during the 1967 Six-Day War and annexed in 1981. However, this annexation is unrecognized by most of the international community, including the United Nations, which designates it as occupied territory.
• Strategic importance:
  • The Syrian capital, Damascus, is clearly visible from the top of the Golan Heights.
  • The region overlooks northern Israel’s Galilee and the Sea of Galilee, while also dominating the route to Damascus on the Syrian-controlled side.
  • The Golan Heights shares borders with Jordan and Lebanon, adding to its strategic significance.
  • It is a crucial water source for the arid region, with rainwater from the Golan’s catchment area flowing into the Jordan River.