The Golan Heights
Approaching the historical site of the Golan Heights, I was unsure of how I would react once I saw it. To my surprise before we toured the area, the Mayor of Al Qunaytirah, the town in the Heights that remains inhabited, greeted us. Of the 1,860 sq. kilometers, 1,260 remain under construction. The current population is 510,000.
The Mayor told the group of American students that the destruction of the area was intentionally done by Israeli forces in 1973 after the war was over. He said they destroyed the city once peace had been established just to bring more harm and terror to the area.
Much of the town has been left in the same condition it was after 1973 to serve as a live witness, or living museum. He said that the Israeli’s have destroyed man, stone, and tree.
The Mayor went on to say that when the Israeli’s left the area they left behind more than 1 million land mines. Many of these mines are shaped in shiny and colorful forms to, supposedly to attract children. Two months ago, two children were killed by a mine while walking a cow home to their village.
The United States sanctions have been in effect since 2003 under the Syrian Accountability Act. The Mayor said these sanctions affect every aspect of the Syrian economy.
As many before him, the Mayor spoke of his hope for the new Obama Administration. “We cannot say we are optimistic until we see the outcomes in his policy in this region,” he said.
He said that it is absolutely out of the question to leave one particle of sand of the Golan Heights in Israeli hands. He also said the Palestinians have a right to return to Jerusalem as their capital.
“Golan return is a matter of dignity for us, it is our land. It is unanimous among Syrians that the whole of Golan should come back.”
Mayor said that Israelis have conducted over 211 excavations in the heights trying to find relics or ruins of Hebrew historical roots, as the search has been in vein.
He said that Bush spoke of Iraqi democracy. As a result of the war Iraq has offered more than one million martyrs, and thus widows, and over four and a half million orphans. .
“This is the democracy of Bush, no American citizen would accept these actions.”
When asked about the U.S. Israeli relationship he said that he believes Israel controls the U.S.
Again I am amazed at the high level officials you have had the opportunity to sit down and talk with. Can’t wait to hear more when you get home. Can you believe you only have 5 more days there??
Love you!
Mom
xo
Hi
I have read with interest your 2 new blogs. I am amazed at the depth and breath of your experience. I hope you will be able to share and to educate others when you return about what you have learned about these cultures so that we may gain a greater appreciation for this area of the world.
Love, Dad