The article is an overview of a wide range research
regarding the collective identity of the Golan Heights settlers during the
period of the attempted negotiations with Syria.
Initially, an historical survey was made focusing on
the strategic aspect of the water component and the Golan settlement.
Extensive theoretical background was used to identify
problems which were raised during interviews with 18 Golan settlers, which
took place during the months February, June and July 2000, when the Golan
was experiencing a stormy public campaign.
The population of the study includes two
representatives: the generation of veteran Golan settlers, who arrived at
a young age as of July 1967, and the second generation born on the Golan.
Many questions were raised on the following issues:
identity, memory, population, territory and citizenship.
Furthermore, the contents of documents and newspaper
articles have been analyzed. From all the gathered information, the author
has created a human mosaic whose purpose is to analyze the process of
change and future of the Golan inhabitants from their own introspection
and discussions.
