Golan Heights (Syrian Heights) - Israel claims sovereignty over about two-thirds of the Golan Heights, which it annexed from Syria in 1967, and which it reasserted it's sovereignty over within the 1981 Golan Heights Law. This was condemned by the United Nations, which continues to see this part of Israel as being occupied, and actually belonging to Syria. Syria continues to assert it's sovereignty over the entire Golan region, but only currently administers about one-third of it. The Syrian-administered area has a population of about 80,000, and about 40,000 live in the Israeli-controlled area, many of whom are in illegal settlements. Along with the UN, the EU, US, UK, Red Cross, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the Arab League all consider Israel to be an illegal occupying force in the region.
Related Disputes:
Israel
Palestine |