Syrians in the occupied Syrian Golan have now been separated for more than half a century from friends and family in the rest of Syria. ‘Forgotten Occupation: Life in the Syrian Golan after 50 Years of Israeli Occupation’ describes how Syrians have witnessed the forcible transfer and displacement of friends and family; the destruction of homes; the appropriation of land and the arrival of a foreign occupier. It shows how Syrians have been treated as second-class citizens in their own country, and how they have fought to maintain their dignity and sense of identity, despite fifty years of oppression.
The book is divided into nine chapters, which describe different aspects of life under occupation, such as family separation, housing restrictions and the dangers of landmines. Every chapter consists of an interview with a Syrian, explaining how they have been affected by that particular issue, as well as a legal analysis by an international expert.