Another fascinating trip on my recent visit to Israel was into the Golan Heights with political geographer Nimrod Luz. The Golan was captured by Israel from Syria in 1967, and very nearly lost in 1973. Israel annexed it in 1981, moving from military to civil law there, though this is not recognised as legal by other states or the international community – it was condemned by UN Security Council resolution 497, for example. For sometime it has been a relatively peaceful area, though the Syrian civil war has raised tensions.

Before the Syrian civil war there was even talk of a peace treaty with Syria that would have seen some or all of this returned.

Towards Mount Hermon

The trip was fascinating, taking in war memorials and battlefields, and a look-out towards the contested town of Quneitra and past this towards Syria and Mount Hermon. Compared to the heat of Tiberias, it was pleasantly warm and breezy – it’s a popular tourist destination for Israelis. Very interesting to see, and to get a sense of the terrain of such a highly contested territory.

Towards Syria

Border wall between Golan and Syria