In a remarkable move, the Civil Gathering of the Sons of the Golan Heights announced a document titled "The National Pact," in which they outlined a series of demands they considered "legitimate and just." They affirmed their commitment to defending them in all Syrian forums, considering the Golan Heights issue "not a local matter, but a purely Syrian national one."
The statement, a copy of which was received by Zaman al-Wasl, stated that Quneitra Governorate, the heart of the Golan Heights, continues to suffer from Israeli occupation attacks, land confiscation, and home demolitions, while hundreds of thousands of Golanis displaced since the June 1967 defeat live scattered across five Syrian governorates.
The document emphasized the need to unify the voice of the Golanis both inside Syria and in displacement camps, in order to achieve their political, service, and constitutional rights. The signatories emphasized that what they put forward "is not merely sectarian demands, but rather national and moral commitments."
Key points of the document:
1- Support for the legitimate Syrian leadership:
The people of the Golan declared their support for President Ahmad al-Sharaa, considering that his leadership "represented the will of the people and led the country toward liberation."
2- Rejection of Israeli attacks:
The statement condemned what it described as "repeated Israeli aggression against Quneitra lands," warning against "attempts to complete the occupation of the remaining Golan."
3- Adherence to the right of return:
The people of the Golan affirmed their full commitment to the right of return to their occupied land, based on United Nations resolutions, rejecting any understandings or agreements that would infringe upon or undermine this right.
4- Rejection of the "administrative integration" project:
The statement warned against the project to integrate displaced communities into other governorates, considering it "an attempt to obliterate the Golan identity and a pretext for closing the Golan file internationally." It also paves the way for the abolition of the Quneitra governorate. 5- Demand for Full Parliamentary Representation:
The signatories demanded that the Golanis be granted genuine representation in the People's Assembly, commensurate with their population of over one million, pointing to the "catastrophes and denial of rights" they have been subjected to for 57 years.
6- Legal Recognition of the Rights of Displaced Persons:
The demands included the right to adequate housing, employment opportunities, and a decent standard of living, similar to what is stipulated in the United Nations conventions for displaced persons around the world.
7- Enshrining Rights in the Constitution:
The statement called for the inclusion of the rights of the Golanis in the constitution or in a permanent law, "so that the demands do not turn into a seasonal debate that is repeated with each new government."
8- Moral and National Obligation:
The statement concluded with a recommendation that this document be considered "a moral and national charter for all Syrians," particularly those who will hold representative positions in legislative bodies.
According to the Golan Heights Civil Gathering, this document came after months of consultations between representatives from Quneitra and the displacement camps. It will serve as a reference for any national dialogue on the Golan Heights issue.
Zaman Al-Wasl
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