Discuss the brief history and geostrategic importance of Golan heights of the middle east. (250 Words)
Refer - Indian Express
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IAS Parliament 5 years
KEY POINTS
Brief history of Golan Heights
· The Golan Heights were part of Syria until 1967, when Israel captured most of the area in the Six Day War, occupying it and annexing it in 1981.
· That unilateral annexation was not recognised internationally, and Syria demands the return of the territory.
· Syria tried to regain the Heights in the 1973 Middle East war, but was thwarted. Israel and Syria signed an agreement in 1974 and the Golan had been relatively quiet since.
· In 2000, Israel and Syria held their highest-level talks over a possible return of the Golan and a peace agreement. But the negotiations collapsed and subsequent talks also failed.
Geo-strategic importance of Golan heights
· Israel says that the civil war in Syria demonstrates the need to keep the plateau as a buffer zone between Israeli towns and the instability of its neighbour.
· Israel’s government says it also fears that Iran, an ally of Syria is seeking to establish itself permanently on the Syrian side of the border in order to launch attacks on Israel.
· Both sides covet the Golan’s water resources and naturally fertile soil.
· There is one crossing point (Qneitra) between the Israeli and Syrian sides, which until the Syrian civil war broke out in 2011 was used mainly by United Nations forces, a limited number of Druze civilians and for the transportation of agricultural produce.
· A United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) is stationed in camps and observation posts along the Golan, supported by military observers of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO).
Sandeep 5 years
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IAS Parliament 5 years
