Quick guide to the Golan Heights
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U.S. President Donald Trump has backed Israel’s claim to sovereignty over the Golan Heights, upending decades of U.S. policy and boosting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s re-election campaign
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Jun 1967: Israel seizes most of Golan Heights from Syria during Six-Day War
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1973: Israel thwarts Syrian attempt to retake region. War ends with armistice that leaves most of Golan Heights in Israeli hands
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1981: Israel passes law that effectively annexes region
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Population: Estimated 50,000 people, with Israeli Jewish settlers making up nearly half
in 30 settlements. Rest are Druze of Syrian ancestry
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Dec 2017: President Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and orders relocation of U.S. embassy to city from Tel Aviv
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Area of  separation – UN-controlled buffer zone
LEBANON
GOLAN HEIGHTS
Mediterranean Sea
Sea of Galilee
SYRIA
JORDAN
Jerusalem
West Bank
Tel Aviv
Gaza Strip
25 miles
40km 
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Sources: Reuters, Stratfor Picture: Associated Press © GRAPHIC NEWS