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Golan Heights

An evening cityscape of Moscow with towers in the background and a river and traffic-filled road in the foreground

Russia responds to Mueller report: Moscow wins, Putin is stronger than Trump and US is a ‘pain in the a – -‘

Justice

Official Russian response to the Mueller findings has been scornful. Today, most Russian media outlets are holding up the Mueller story as just another example of American dysfunction.

Donald Trump sits and holds up a signed proclamation while flanked by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Jared Kushner

Trump’s Golan Heights decision is at odds with UN law

An Israeli soldier stands next to signs pointing out distances to different cities, on Mount Bental, an observation post in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights that overlooks the Syrian side of the Quneitra crossing, Israel May 10, 2018.

Q&A: Why is the Golan Heights so important?

Conflict & Justice
Missile fire is seen in a yellow streak across the night sky over Daraa, Syria.

Israel launched a massive strike against Iranian targets in Syria

Members of the Druze community watch the fighting in Syria's civil war, next to the border fence between Syria and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, near the Druze village of Majdal Shams, June 16, 2015.

Druze in the Golan Heights have long been ‘on the fence’ between Syria and Israel. Syria’s civil war has changed things.

Conflict
Graffiti in an abandoned building overlooking Syria. The building used to be a Syrian army post before Israel captured the Golan Heights territory.

Al-Qaeda arrives at Israel’s doorstep in the Golan Heights

Conflict

The Israel-Syria border had been quiet for decades, even though the two countries are technically still at war. But that changed three years ago, when civil war broke out in Syria. Al-Qaeda-linked militants fighting the Syrian regime have battled for the border region, and just won control over it. That is making Israelis quite nervous.

Syria’s civil war ends long quiet in Israeli-controlled Golan Heights

Global Politics

There’s been relative peace and quiet between Israel and Syria for years. Sure, Israel would occasionally strike out at what it saw as Syria threatening its security, but things have mostly remained quiet. But, recently, as Syria’s civil wars devolves into mayhem, the peace had been punctured with threats and missile strikes.

Golan Heights residents watchful of Syria fighting across border

As the violence in Syria continues to escalate, Israel isn’t taking any chances with security along its northern border and in the Golan Heights. Residents there have mixed emotions about the ongoing conflict, while the Israel government worries it could send refugees or militants over its border.

Syrian Army Retakes Golan Heights Crossing into Israel

Fighting between the Syrian government and opposition forces has made its way into the Golan heights.  There are reports that Syrian government forces have taken back control of the border crossing there that has been monitored by the U.N. since 1974. Reporter Matthew Bell recently traveled to the Golan Heights for PRI’s The World, which is […]