SELLING SETTLEMENTS THE OCCUPIED GOLAN'S SETTLEMENT INDUSTRIES SELLING SETTLEMENTS The Occupied Golan's Settlement Industries By Isobel Cowey & Dr. Nazeh Brik Israel continues to use the expansion of businesses operating in the Golan. industry and settlements to legitimize and cement control of the territories it occupies. The following report will discuss and analyse: The world is slowly starting to notice this and the background of how the Golan got to where react. Over the past decade, there has been it is today; the illegality of Israel’s settlements growing support for boycotting products from in the Golan; the motivation behind the Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian continued expansion of settlement businesses territories. However, few people have paid despite their illegality; how labelling and attention to the similar issue of illegal international regulations impact settlement settlement production in the occupied Syrian businesses; how settlement businesses Golan (‘the Golan’). destroy local Syrian industries; and, examples of current settlement businesses in the Golan. Israel's occupation of the Golan has had long- Ultimately, this report shows how settlement lasting and severe effects on the native Syrian businesses destroy native industries and population. The lack of attention paid to the contribute to the ‘Israelization’ of the Golan. occupation has paved the way for Israel not only to establish residential settlements, but I. Background also to create companies and industries in settlements that are constantly growing and Israel has occupied the Golan since the 1 967 are major contributors to the Israeli economy. Arab-Israeli War. The war and subsequent Many of these companies compete at an occupation was devastating for the native international level and are selling and exporting Syrian population. Approximately 1 30,000 their products worldwide. people - amounting to 95 percent of the total population of the Golan - fled their homes Al-Marsad counted 1 67 businesses that are and/or were forcibly transferred from the Golan operating out of Israeli settlements in the by the Israeli army. Of the Golan’s 345 Syrian Golan. This report is published with an villages and farms, 340 were destroyed by the appendix that includes a list of these Israeli army. The ruins of these villages were companies with brief descriptions of their then used to build Israeli settlements and services. This is the first comprehensive list of fortifications. In 1 981 , the Israeli Knesset its kind that identifies Israeli settlement voted, with a majority of 63 to 21 1 , to annex the 1 Golan. This illegal act was widely condemned benefit. 11 Accordingly, ‘it is required to keep the by the international community. 2 occupied territory separate, politically as well as economically’. 1 2 Additionally, the United Today, there are approximately 27,000 Israeli Nations Security Council, whose resolutions settlers living in 34 illegal settlements in the are binding, has repeatedly declared Israeli Golan. 3 Together with the Israeli military and settlements in occupied territories illegal. 1 3 authorities, they control 95 percent of the Golan’s land. 4 Senior Israeli government Israel continues to ignore all international law ministers, such as Yisrael Katz5 and Naftali forbidding settlement activities and expansion. Bennet6, have repeatedly called for 1 00,000 Regardless of Israel’s apathy, the settlements more settlers to move to the Golan. New and in the Golan and their companies and existing settlers obtain major benefits to live in industries should not be exploiting the the Golan, including tax exemptions and resources in the region and selling their reduced rent costs. 7 The remaining native products on the Israeli and/or international Syrian population of the Golan, approximately markets. Such acts unambiguously violate 26,800 people, live in five villages located in international law. the north of the region and control approximately five percent of the Golan’s land. 8 II. The Illegality of the Occupation The international community continues to reject and denounce Israel’s occupation of the Golan and expansion of settlements as illegal. The Fourth Geneva Convention condemns the transfer of civilians to occupied territories to establish settlements. 9 Furthermore, the Hague Regulations, at Article 55, state, ‘The In recent years, Israel doubled down on its occupying State shall be regarded only as illegal settlement and business expansion in administrator and usufructuary . It must the Golan. In addition to continuing to call for safeguard the capital of these (occupied) increased migration into the Golan1 4, Israel has properties and administer them in accordance used the Syrian Civil War to argue that there is with the rules of usufruct’. 1 0 This essentially no country for the Golan to be returned to. 1 5 means that an occupying state has an Since the onset of the Syrian Civil War in 2011 , obligation not to make permanent changes in Israel has increased Golan settlement occupied territory and is prohibited from populations by almost one-third – from 1 9,635 exploiting the economic resources of the in 201 0 to 26,261 in 201 7. 1 6 occupied territory for its own domestic Above: Harvesters picking grapes at one of Golan Heights Winery's vineyards. Photograph sourced by Golan Heights Winery's Facebook page. 2 Furthermore, supporters of Israel’s occupation up in recent years as Israel tries to expand its of the Golan have recently seemed more control over the region. 23 To date, oil inclined to cite biblical references to the region companies have yet to find a substantial as part of “the Land of Israel” to justify their source of oil in the Golan; however, small oil ‘legal’ right to control the area indefinitely. 1 7 In reservoirs have been located, leading to 201 6, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin encouraged and enhanced drilling. 24 In fact, Netanyahu stated that ‘the Golan Heights will Afek Oil & Gas – a subsidiary of the United remain under Israel’s sovereignty permanently’ States ('U.S.')-based Genie Energy, which has during the first Israeli cabinet meeting in the former U.S. Vice President Dick Chaney and Golan. 1 8 Despite these efforts, Israel still billionaire Rupert Murdoch on its advisory stands alone in its claim over the Golan and it’s board – has claimed that the Golan may actions in the region remain blatant violations contain ‘billions of barrels’ of oil. 25 of international law. The tourist industry in the Golan is expansive III. Motivation Behind the Economic and growing. The Golan is visited by over two Occupation million tourists each year. 26 Most of these tourists are directed to Israeli settlements, sites The Golan is known for its fertile soil, potential and activities. For instance, a recent search for oil production, tourist industry and water found that at least 1 30 properties – almost all resources. The Golan is well suited to grow the listings – on Air BnB (a popular alternative various fruit and other crops. Before Israel’s travel accommodation website) in the Golan occupation, the native Syrian population raised were in Israeli settlements. This as the Israeli livestock and grew grains, fruits and Ministry of Tourism recently invested NIS 1 8.5 vegetables. 1 9 Today, Syrians only grow apples million (about USD $5 million) in cooperating and cherries in the Golan while Israeli settlers more with major online travel companies. 27 cultivate everything that the Syrians used to produce and more. 20 Perhaps the largest Water and the access to water are also hijacked industry in the Golan has been grape significant motivations for the Israeli production. The Golan has gained a strong government to solidify its position in the Golan. reputation around the globe for producing The World Resources Institute lists Syria and wine. Nearly half of Israel’s wine is produced in Israel (as well as Jordan and Lebanon) as the Upper Galilee and Golan Heights regions. 21 some of the most water-stressed countries in Additionally, grapes grown in the Golan are the world. 28 This exemplifies the dire need of used to supply all major wine producers in access to water in the region. The Golan is Israel. 22 very water rich and therefore extremely important to Israel as a source of fresh water. Oil exploration has taken place throughout the Over one-third of Israel’s water consumption Golan since the early 1 990s but has ramped annually is sourced from Golan. 29 3 companies and businesses have been created The Israeli industries in the Golan contribute in 29 settlements in the Golan. 31 The majority significantly to Israel’s economy. For instance, of settlement companies, 89, are based in in 201 5, Israel made USD $371 million in Katzrin. Katzrin is the biggest Israeli settlement profits from agricultural products from the in the Golan. 32 Additionally, there are Golan alone. 30 Furthermore, many Golan- numerous companies not located in the Golan based companies are expanding operations that market Golan settlement products or use overseas. Aside from manipulating the raw materials from the settlements. These resources of the local population to profit for companies range from small family businesses itself, the Israeli government’s tactics of to large factories that compete on the maximizing the use of industries and international market and export globally. These businesses in the Golan helps solidify its businesses include a number of wineries, territorial presence. The more Israel is able to technology innovation groups, medical supply establish businesses and profits from the manufacturers and beauty products region, the more it is able to intimately link the manufacturers. 33 region to itself and claim that it has a sovereign right to control it. The true origin of many of the products manufactured in the Golan is often purposefully obscured. Since the Golan is an occupied region, its products should be advertised and labelled accordingly.