'}}

As Syrians commemorate yet another year of occupation, Israel tightens its grip on the Golan

June 3, 2020

53 years ago this month, Israel occupied the Golan, resulting in the forcible transfer or displacement of over 130,000 people – 95% of the population – who are still waiting to return home.

Meanwhile, the remaining 26,600 Syrians in the Golan face multiple human rights violations and an emboldened Israeli government which is tightening its grip on the region. In addition to enduring overcrowded villages, landmines, travel limitations and suppression of their culture, to name but a few issues, Syrians now face a new challenge: the construction of a massive windfarm on their remaining land.

Despite countless objections, in January this year the Israeli government approved the construction of 25 wind turbines¹ on Syrian agricultural land near three of the remaining Syrian villages in the Golan. The windfarm is being developed by an Israeli energy company, Energix Ltd. (‘Energix’), which in addition to projects in Israel and the Occupied Territories, also operates in the United States and Poland.

In addition to violating international law, Energix’s wind energy project has been marked by a strategy to manipulate and intimidate the Syrian population. This culminated in Energix suing Al-Marsad – the only human rights organisation in the Golan – and members of the Syrian population under Israel’s controversial ‘Anti-Boycott Act’ last year in an attempt to silence the organisation and others who expressed concerns about the project’s legality and impact on the Syrian population.

While continuing to pursue its case against Al-Marsad, Energix was also exploiting the recent COVID-19 lockdown in the Golan to develop sites for its harmful project. Accompanied by Israeli police, Energix representatives were visiting project sites during the COVID-19 lockdown to demarcate plots and erect signs.² Due to the lockdown movement restrictions, Syrians were grounded in their homes, unable to monitor or peacefully protest Energix’s activities. Meanwhile, a smear campaign by supporters of the project against Al-Marsad and others has intensified, resulting in death threats and threats to damage property.

Given the gravity of the situation, last month Al-Marsad wrote to the European Union (‘EU’) to call for its support. In addition to addressing the flagrant violations of international law occurring in the Golan with the Israeli government, Al-Marsad called on the EU to issue a public statement outlining its opposition to the project and provide concrete support on the ground. For example, by attending hearings of the lawsuit against Al-Marsad to ensure compliance with fair trial standards; submitting an amicus curiae brief to the court hearing the case against Al-Marsad; organising an EU fact-finding visit to the Golan; and, supporting human rights defenders in the Golan through training and funding.

With an erratic Trump administration greenlighting the Israeli government’s every move, Israel is tightening its grip on the Golan at the expense of its native Syrian population – both Syrians that remain and those who were forced from their homes over 50 years ago. Following three United Nations experts expressing their concern, it is vital that the EU follow suit and stand up for the rights of Syrians from the Golan.

1. In addition to a further six more pending final approval.

2. At the time of publication, the lockdown is no longer in effect. Energix is continuing to visit project sites.

Releated Posts

'}}
Elections in Syrian villages in occupied Golan
Earlier this year, the Israeli authorities announced the decision to hold local elections on 3 October 2018 in the Syrian villages in the occupied Golan. These elections would be the first of their kind since the occupation just over fifty years ago.
READ MORE
'}}
EU diplomats visit the occupied Syrian Golan
Yesterday, 23 deputy ambassadors and senior diplomats from EU countries, and the EU delegation, visited Majdal Shams, one of the five remaining Syrian villages in the occupied Golan. The visit was to learn about the serious human rights situation of the Syrian population in the occupied Golan due to the Israeli occupation and the conflict in Syria.
READ MORE
'}}
2018 Universal Periodic Review of Israel
Al-Marsad calls on UN Human Rights Council members to raise human rights violations committed by Israel in the occupied Syrian Golan during Israel’s upcoming Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in January 2018. Since Israel’s last Universal Periodic Review in 2012, it has continued to implement policies that violate the basic human rights of the Syrian population in the occupied Syrian Golan. Al-Marsad's submission for Israel’s UPR covers six categories of Israeli violations during this period: (1) Illegal settlements and exploitation of natural resources; (2) Discriminatory housing and planning policies, and home demolition; (3) Landmines; (4) Revocation of residency; (5) Family separation; and (6) Education. Al-Marsad’s full submission is available here. In brief, it highlights that: Illegal settlements and exploitation of natural resources 95% of the occupied Golan is controlled by Israeli settlers and the Israeli military, with only 5% controlled by the remaining Syrian population. In 2017, for the first time, the number of Israeli settlers (26,000) overtook the number of Syrians (25,000) living in the occupied Golan. Note - this is a revised figure since the submission was made. In 2016, the Israeli government approved the construction of 1600 new settlement units in the illegal Israeli settlement of Katzrin. This follows announcements by Israeli government ministers in 2015 to encourage 100,000 new settlers to move to the occupied Golan. In 2015, an Israeli company, Afek Oil & Gas, commenced oil exploration in the occupied Golan. In addition to natural resource exploitation, tourism is a staple of the settlement economy. Tourism to illegal settlements is promoted by the Israeli government and tourism industry, which market the occupied Golan as ‘Northern Israel’. Discriminatory housing and planning policies, and home demolition Discriminatory land and housing policies have led to severe overcrowding in the remaining Syrian villages in the occupied Golan. Syrians are forced to build homes without building permits to meet their housing needs. They risk fines of up to tens of thousands of dollars, potentially doubling the cost of construction, and the full or partial demolition of their homes. In 2016, a home in Majdal Shams was illegally demolished by the Israeli authorities. Another 80-90 Syrian home owners have been issued with demolition orders. Under the 'Hermon National Park' plan, the Israeli authorities are currently seeking to designate 82 km2 of land around two of the remaining Syrian villages as a national park. This would further impede the expansion of these already overcrowded villages. Landmines The equivalent of over 6000 football pitches are suspected to be mined in the occupied Golan. The Israeli military has laid minefields in and adjacent to Syrian villages on the pretext of security – often within just a few metres of people’s houses and where their children play. New anti-personnel mines were laid by Israel as recently as 2011. It is estimated that at least 66 Syrians have been victims of landmines in the occupied Syrian Golan. Among them, 16 died, half of whom were children. Minefield clearance by the Israeli authorities prioritises locations around Israeli settlements and agricultural land over Syrian residential and agricultural zones, despite the higher concentration of landmines in these areas. Revocation of residency The majority of Syrians hold a form of permanent residency status similar to Palestinians living in occupied East Jerusalem. However, whilst Palestinians in occupied East Jerusalem are permitted to have Jordanian nationality, Israel categorises the nationality of Syrians in the occupied Golan as ‘undefined’. The permanent residency status can be revoked if an individual’s ‘centre of life’ changes or if citizenship of another country is obtained. Around 100 Syrians from the occupied Golan have had their permanent residency status revoked. Holders of the permanent residency status cannot vote in the Israeli Knesset and therefore have no political representation. Family separation It is estimated that those forcibly transferred or displaced from the occupied Golan following the occupation and their descendants amount to approximately 500,000 people. Given the conflict in Syria, many have become internally displaced persons (IDPs) for a second time in their lifetime, or refugees. Education Under an imposed Israeli curriculum, Syrian school children in the occupied Golan receive little instruction of Syrian and Arab history, geography, literature and culture. Schools do not observe Syrian national holidays. Syrians have little say in how their schools are run and what their children are taught. Many schools have building deficiencies and do not meet basic safety standards. ENDS Al-Marsad is an independent, not-for-profit, legal human rights organisation – it is the only human rights organisation operating in the occupied Syrian Golan. For additional information, please contact marsad@temp.local or researcher@temp.local
READ MORE
'}}
50 years of occupation: Al-Marsad advocacy tour in Europe
Al-Marsad director Dr Nizar Ayoub and urban planner Dr Nazeh Brik will be in Belgium to speak about the experiences of the native Syrian population under the Israeli occupation. This year marks the 50 year anniversary of the occupation, which started in June 1967.
READ MORE
'}}
Adalah and Al-Marsad demand Israel remove army outposts and minefields from occupied Syrian town in the Golan Heights
Adalah – The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel and Al-Marsad – Arab Human Rights Centre in the Golan Heights sent a letter to senior Israeli officials on 30 July 2017 demanding that they evacuate Israeli military outposts and minefields from the occupied Syrian town of Majdal Shams located in the Golan Heights.
READ MORE