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31 December 2009
The situation of hundreds of thousands of Syrians forcibly displaced from the Golan Heights during the Six Day War in 1967 is still unresolved. The Syrian government estimated in 2007 that over 430,000 people remained internally displaced, including the descendants of those originally forced to flee from the Golan. As occupying power in the Golan, Israel has prevented IDPs from returning to their homes and destroyed hundreds of villages. In 1981, Israel formally annexed the area, but this annexation has not been recognised internationally.
The living conditions of displaced Syrians are not well documented. Most displaced families appear to have integrated in Damascus or elsewhere; however many have expressed a wish to return to Golan, and none have achieved the restitution of their property or compensation for property lost or destroyed.
The Syrian government has made some efforts to rebuild in areas bordering occupied territory, but progress has been slow. Meanwhile, Israel has continued to promote settlements in the Golan: as of 2009, more than 17,000 Israeli settlers were in 32 settlements in the Golan, alongside 18,000 to 21,000 Syrians in the remaining five villages of an estimated 164 which had existed prior to the occupation.
Syrians in the Golan reportedly continued to face discrimination and to be separated from family members residing in Syria.