The land is fertile, and the volcanic soil is used to cultivate vineyards and orchards and raise cattle. The Golan is also home to Israel's only ski resort. Syria wants to secure the return of the Golan Heights as part of any peace deal. In Israel, the principle of returning the territory in return for peace is already established. But the main sticking point during the talks is also likely to bedevil any future discussions. Syria wants a full Israeli withdrawal to the pre border.
This would give Damascus control of the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee - Israel's main source of fresh water. Israel wishes to retain control of Galilee and says the border is located a few hundred metres to the east of the shore.
A deal with Syria would also involve the dismantling of Jewish settlements in the territory. Public opinion in Israel has generally not favoured withdrawal, saying the Heights are too strategically important to be returned.
Indirect talks between Israel and Syria resumed in , through Turkish government intermediaries, but were suspended following the resignation of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert over a corruption inquiry. The Israeli government under Binyamin Netanyahu elected in February indicated that it was determined to take a tougher line over the Golan, and in June Syria said there was no partner for talks on the Israeli side.
The US administration of President Barack Obama declared the restarting of talks between Israel and Syria to be one of its main foreign policy goals, but the advent of civil war in Syria in put paid to any progress. Syrian fighting reached the Golan ceasefire lines in , but the resurgent Syrian government felt confident enough to reopen its Golan border crossing to UN observers in October Viral News. DNA Explainer: Can you lose weight while you are sleeping, a DNA Explainer: What is the reason behind toxic white foam fl DNA Explainer: How world's first patient suffering from 'cli Meet Aqsa, the eldest daughter of Shahid Afridi who is set t Need a PAN card for your kids?
Here's how you can get it - Complete process here. Kashmir Invasion of October - They were not raiders. Syria insists that the part of the Golan held by Israel remains occupied territory and has demanded its return. More than 40, people live on the Israeli-occupied Golan, more than half of them Druze residents.
The Druze are an Arab minority who practice an offshoot of Islam and many of its adherents in Syria have long been loyal to the Assad regime. After annexing the Golan, Israel gave the Druze the option of citizenship, but most rejected it and still identify as Syrian.
About another 20, Israeli settlers also live there, many of them working in farming and tourism. Before the outbreak of the civil war in Syria in , there was an uneasy stand-off between Israeli and Syrian forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad.
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