Islam Times - Golan people pledge support for Syria

Islam Times - People in the occupied Golan Heights, southwestern Syria, have gathered to express allegiance to the Syrian leader and nation.

On Wednesday, people of the village of Majdal Shams, located in northern Golan Heights, also condemned the Israeli occupation of the Syrian territory.

“We want to assure the whole world that our Arab-Syrian Golan people have rejected the decision of annexation since its first minute of declaration”, said an activist attending the event.

Israel annexed the territory on the strategically important Golan Heights on December 14, 1981.

The annexation of the Golan Heights, which Israel seized from Syria in the 1967 war, has been met with international condemnation.

A group of Palestinians was also present at the event to show “support for the Syrian president.” The Palestinians said the liberation of the Golan Heights and Palestine would “start from Damascus.”

“The real revolution is in Palestine, in Jerusalem (Al-Quds). It is not in Syria. We came here to support the Syrian population and their great leadership, Bashar al-Assad,” said Sabrine Diab, a Palestinian activist.

Syria has been experiencing unrest since mid-March, with demonstrations being held both against and in favor of President Assad.

Damascus blames “outlaws, saboteurs and armed terrorist groups” for the unrest, saying it is being orchestrated from abroad.

In interviews with Israeli news outlets over the past few months, the Syrian opposition members have “clearly expressed their vision for the future of Syria and their interest in establishing relations with the Tel Aviv regime,” according to informed sources in Syria.

However, Syrian people have repeatedly expressed solidarity with the government over the past weeks.