'}}

Names of the Syrian villages in the Occupied Syrian Golan destroyed by Israel

August 10, 2016

Following condemnation of Google for the disappearance of the names of the Occupied Palestinian Territories from Google Maps, Al-Marsad reiterates its call for Google Maps to show the names of the Syrian villages in the Occupied Syrian Golan destroyed by Israel.

In June this year, Al-Marsad wrote to Google requesting that it amend Google Maps to show the names of the Syrian villages destroyed by the Israeli military in the Occupied Syrian Golan since Israel’s occupation in 1967.

Al-Marsad has been informed that Google Maps previously showed the names of the destroyed Syrian villages in the Occupied Syrian Golan - however, this is no longer the case and Google Maps now only shows the names of the illegal Israeli settlements built on their ruins.

By only showing the names of illegal Israeli settlements, Google has become complicit in Israel’s attempts to delete the existence of these villages from history. Instead, Google must take an objective approach, in line with international human rights law and international humanitarian law, and stop supporting Israel’s narrative of the landscape of the Occupied Syrian Golan.

Al-Marsad has not yet received a response from Google.

During the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, Israel captured 70% of the Syrian Golan. Consequently, an estimated 130,000 native Syrian inhabitants were forcibly transferred or displaced from their homes and forbidden from returning. The Israeli military then began a widespread campaign to demolish their homes that resulted in the destruction of two cities, and over 300 villages and farms.

Israeli settlements – illegal under international law – were then built over destroyed Syrian villages and farms, in so doing, control was taken of the land and natural resources.

These actions by Israel violate multiple rules of international law and have been strongly condemned by the international community.

Today, there are at least 20,000 Israeli settlers in the Occupied Syrian Golan, living in over 32 illegal settlements – often built using the stones from destroyed Syrian villages.

Dr Nizar Ayoub, Director of Al-Marsad, commenting, said:

“Google must take immediate action so that its maps include the names of the destroyed Syrian villages. Google and other businesses have an obligation to ensure they are not complicit in Israel’s illegal occupation of the Syrian Golan.”

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@golan-marsad.org or researcher.almarsad@gmail.com

Releated Posts

'}}
Al-Marsad Submits Response to Energix Lawsuit
Al-Marsad – Arab Human Rights Centre in Golan Heights (“Al-Marsad”) has submitted its response to Energix Renewable Energies’ (“Energix”) 18 June 2019 legal complaint in Nazareth Magistrate's Court. Al-Marsad’s reply categorically denies Energix’s claims that Al-Marsad, working with “anti-Zionist” activists, violated Israel’s Anti-Defamation Act of 1965 and Anti-Boycott Act of 2011.
READ MORE
'}}
Approval of Wind Energy Project Threatens All Aspects of Natives’ Lives in the Occupied Syrian Golan
On Monday, September 9, Israel’s National Infrastructure Committee (“NIC”) approved Energix Renewable Energies’ (“Energix”) wind energy project, which is planned to be built on almost a quarter of the limited agricultural land that Syrians still control in the occupied Syrian Golan (“Golan”)
READ MORE
'}}
Al-Marsad September 2019 joint appeal to UN experts to protect human rights in the occupied Syrian Golan
Al-Marsad, in coalition with 15 organizations, including human rights groups, an academic institution, and a trade union, submission of an emergency appeal to various United Nations experts demanding they intervene immediately to protect human rights in the occupied Syrian Golan.
READ MORE
'}}
Al-Marsad Appeals to UN Experts to Protect Human Rights in the Occupied Syrian Golan
Al-Marsad – Arab Human Rights Centre in Golan Heights (“Al-Marsad”), in coalition with 15 organizations, including human rights groups, an academic institution, and a trade union, has submitted an emergency appeal to various United Nations experts demanding they intervene immediately to protect human rights in the occupied Syrian Golan.
READ MORE
'}}
Al-Marsad, Al-Haq, & Cornell Law School’s International Human Rights Clinic Submit Joint Report to UN
Al-Marsad – Arab Human Rights Centre in Golan Heights (“Al-Marsad”), Al-Haq, and Cornell Law School’s International Human Rights Clinic have submitted a joint parallel report to the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (“Committee”). The report was submitted for the Committee’s consideration as it is due to begin its review of Israel’s fourth periodic report at the end of September.
READ MORE