Knesset Ratifies Golan Heights Law
December 14th, 1981
December 14th, 1981
How Long Ago?
43 years, 3 months, 1 day ago
Location
Golan Heights, Israel
Category
Politics & Government
People
- Menachem Begin
Links & References
Tags
Knesset Ratifies Golan Heights Law
The Israeli Knesset passed the Golan Heights Law, asserting Israeli sovereignty over this strategically important territory. The decision made the Golan Heights an official part of Israel, extending Israeli civil law and administration to the region. This act was met with widespread international condemnation, as the Golan Heights had been captured from Syria during the 1967 Six-Day War. The law aimed to solidify Israel's hold over the area amidst regional tensions.
Passed by the Knesset, Israel's parliament.
Strengthened Israeli control over strategic territory.
Prompted international condemnation and disputes.
Signified Israel's commitment to its territorial claims.
What Happened?
The Knesset's passage of the Golan Heights Law represented a significant political move in the ongoing Arab-Israeli conflict. The Golan Heights had been under Israeli control since the Six-Day War in 1967, but the international community did not recognize Israeli sovereignty over the territory. The new law formally extended Israeli law to the Golan Heights, which Israel considered vital for its national security due to its strategic vantage point overlooking northern Israel and southern Syria. The Knesset voted in favor of the law to reinforce Israel's claim amidst ongoing hostilities in the region and rising tensions with neighboring countries, particularly Syria. Armed conflict and skirmishes had continued sporadically since the war, contributing to Israel's motivations for solidifying its presence in the Golan Heights. Following the law's enactment, the immediate response was a sharp condemnation from the Arab states and various international organizations, including the United Nations, which reaffirmed its position that the Golan Heights remained occupied territory.
Why Does it Matter?
The passage of the Golan Heights Law is intriguing because it marked a bold assertion of authority by Israel over a territory widely viewed internationally as occupied land. It set a precedent for Israel's future policies and interactions with neighboring Arab nations, especially in the context of ongoing territorial disputes that were central to the Arab-Israeli conflict. This legal move demonstrated Israel's resolve to maintain control over areas it occupied during earlier conflicts.
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