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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Patel resignation puts spotlight on the Golan | Patel resignation puts spotlight on the Golan |
| (2 months later) | |
| Letters | |
| Mon 13 Nov 2017 19.03 GMT | |
| Last modified on Mon 27 Nov 2017 13.50 GMT | |
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| Priti Patel’s visit to an Israeli army base in the occupied Golan temporarily put this usually forgotten territory in the headlines (Report, 10 November). However, despite the international coverage, there has been little attention paid to two important issues: the return of injured civilians and fighters to Syria following Israeli medical treatment, and the situation of the remaining Syrian population in the Golan who now mark the 50th year of living under occupation. | Priti Patel’s visit to an Israeli army base in the occupied Golan temporarily put this usually forgotten territory in the headlines (Report, 10 November). However, despite the international coverage, there has been little attention paid to two important issues: the return of injured civilians and fighters to Syria following Israeli medical treatment, and the situation of the remaining Syrian population in the Golan who now mark the 50th year of living under occupation. |
| First, although Israel provides medical assistance to Syrian civilians, it fails to offer them a safe haven – as required by international law – and instead sends them back to a conflict zone. Israel is also the only country neighbouring Syria that has not taken any Syrian refugees. Fighters from Syria who receive medical assistance from Israel also re-join hostilities rather than being prevented from participating again in military operations, as required by international law. | First, although Israel provides medical assistance to Syrian civilians, it fails to offer them a safe haven – as required by international law – and instead sends them back to a conflict zone. Israel is also the only country neighbouring Syria that has not taken any Syrian refugees. Fighters from Syria who receive medical assistance from Israel also re-join hostilities rather than being prevented from participating again in military operations, as required by international law. |
| Second, the conflict also has a huge impact on Syrians in the Golan, like me, who have been cut off from the rest of the Syria since the Israeli occupation in 1967. Following the occupation, approximately 95% (130,000) of the Syrian population in the Golan was forcibly transferred or displaced from their homes, and 340 villages and farms were demolished. Today, the remaining Syrian population in the Golan (26,000) is separated from friends and family in the rest of Syria, and face danger from spillover of the conflict as the region becomes increasingly militarised. Further, we suffer from multiple discriminatory Israeli policies similar to the Palestinian population. | Second, the conflict also has a huge impact on Syrians in the Golan, like me, who have been cut off from the rest of the Syria since the Israeli occupation in 1967. Following the occupation, approximately 95% (130,000) of the Syrian population in the Golan was forcibly transferred or displaced from their homes, and 340 villages and farms were demolished. Today, the remaining Syrian population in the Golan (26,000) is separated from friends and family in the rest of Syria, and face danger from spillover of the conflict as the region becomes increasingly militarised. Further, we suffer from multiple discriminatory Israeli policies similar to the Palestinian population. |
| As the dust settles on the Priti Patel issue, it is vital that the Syrian population in the Golan is not forgotten once again.Dr Nizar AyoubDirector, Al-Marsad (Arab Human Rights Centre in Golan Heights) | As the dust settles on the Priti Patel issue, it is vital that the Syrian population in the Golan is not forgotten once again.Dr Nizar AyoubDirector, Al-Marsad (Arab Human Rights Centre in Golan Heights) |
| • Your headline inferring that Priti Patel was intending to donate British funds to the Israeli army was misleading and does not take into account the facts on the ground. The Israeli army has set up field hospitals to treat severely wounded Syrians who are then transported by Israeli Army helicopters to Israeli hospitals to receive expert care. It is worth remembering that most Syrians have been taught to view Israel as their mortal enemy. Having met a leader of one of the Syrian opposition groups, I would like to inform your readers about how grateful they are for all the humanitarian and medical care that they receive from Israel.Judy SamuelLondon | • Your headline inferring that Priti Patel was intending to donate British funds to the Israeli army was misleading and does not take into account the facts on the ground. The Israeli army has set up field hospitals to treat severely wounded Syrians who are then transported by Israeli Army helicopters to Israeli hospitals to receive expert care. It is worth remembering that most Syrians have been taught to view Israel as their mortal enemy. Having met a leader of one of the Syrian opposition groups, I would like to inform your readers about how grateful they are for all the humanitarian and medical care that they receive from Israel.Judy SamuelLondon |
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| Middle East and North Africa | |
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| Islamic State | |
| Priti Patel | |
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