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{{Short description|Ceasefire line crossing in the Golan Heights}}
{{Infobox bridge {{Infobox bridge
|bridge_name= Quneitra Crossing |bridge_name= Quneitra Crossing
|native_name={{Nobold|{{lang|ar|تقاطع القنيطرة}}}}<br/>{{Script/Hebrew|מעבר קוניטרה}}
|image=Israel-Syria Quneitra Crossing.jpg
|image=Flickr - Israel Defense Forces - Druze Students Crossing the Israeli-Syrian Border.jpg
|caption=
|caption=Israeli-occupied side of the Quneitra Crossing
|official_name= Quneitra Crossing<br/>מעבר קוניטרה<br/>تقاطع القنيطرة
|official_name= Quneitra Crossing<br/>{{lang|ar|تقاطع القنيطرة}}<br/>{{Script/Hebrew|מעבר קוניטרה}}
|carries=Pedestrians, commercial goods, humanitarian missions |carries=Pedestrians, commercial goods, humanitarian missions
|crosses=] between ] ] and territory claimed by ] |crosses=]
|locale= ], ]<br/>{{flagicon|Syria}} ], ] |locale= ]
|maint=]<br/> and ]<br/>] |maint=]<br/>]<br/>]
|id= |id=
|design= |design=
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|closed= |closed=
|toll= |toll=
|map_cue=
|map_image=
|map_text=
|map_width=
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The '''Quneitra Crossing''' ({{lang-ar|تقاطع القنيطرة}}, {{lang-he|מעבר קוניטרה}}) is an access point through the ] between Syrian controlled territory and the ] portion of the ]. It is on the southwestern outskirts of ], and not far from ] in the Golan Heights. Syrian ] from the Golan Heights are permitted to cross through the passage to study, work and live in ]. The '''Quneitra Crossing''' ({{langx|ar|تقاطع القنيطرة}}, {{langx|he|מעבר קוניטרה}}) is a ] through the ] into the ] controlled area between the Syrian controlled and the ] portion of the ]. It is on the southwestern outskirts of ], and not far from the ] of ] in the Golan Heights. Syrian ] from the Golan Heights are permitted to cross through the passage to study, work and live in ].
The crossing is also used for the transfer of apples grown by ] farmers under the auspices of the Red Cross.<ref> Haaretz, Oct. 8, 2007</ref><ref> NPR, March 14, 2005</ref> The only concrete guard post along the ceasefire line is at the Quneitra crossing.<ref></ref> The crossing is also used for the transfer of apples grown by ] farmers under the auspices of the Red Cross.<ref> Haaretz, Oct. 8, 2007</ref><ref> NPR, March 14, 2005</ref> The only concrete guard post along the ceasefire line is at the Quneitra crossing.<ref></ref>


==History== ==History==
The opening of a crossing at Quneitra took place after the ] in 1973. The UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) established its headquarters along the border. In order to carry out its work, UNDOF needed to move freely between Israel and Syria.<ref></ref> The opening of a crossing at Quneitra took place after the ] in 1973. The UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) established its headquarters along the border. In order to carry out its work, UNDOF needed to move freely between Israel and Syria.<ref></ref>


Since 2004, Druze have transferred ]s to Syria through the crossing. In 2010, some 10,000 tons of apples grown by ] farmers in the ] were sent to Syria.<ref></ref> In 2010, the Israeli government authorized a pilgrimage to Syria by a group of 300 Druze citizens of Israel interested in visiting religious sites there.<ref></ref> A group of dancers from five Druze villages in the Golan Heights was sent to ] to perform in a ] competition.<ref></ref> Israeli Druze civilians are permitted to cross the border at Quneitra for university studies and marriage.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sptimes.com/2007/02/18/Worldandnation/Golan_families_dream_.shtml |title=Worldandnation: Golan families dream of reunion |publisher=Sptimes.com |date= |accessdate=2008-10-25}}</ref> Since 1993, 67 Syrian brides have crossed into the Golan Heights and 11 brides from the Golan have crossed into Syria through the Quneitra crossing.<ref></ref> This issue was the topic of the award winning movie, ]. Since 2004, Druze have exported ]s to Syria through the crossing. In 2010, some 10,000 tons of apples grown by ] farmers in the ] were sent to Syria.<ref></ref> In 2010, the Israeli government authorized a pilgrimage to Syria by a group of 300 Druze citizens of Israel interested in visiting religious sites there.<ref></ref> A group of dancers from five Druze villages in the Golan Heights was sent to ] to perform in a ] competition.<ref></ref> Israeli Druze civilians are permitted to cross the border at Quneitra for university studies and marriage.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sptimes.com/2007/02/18/Worldandnation/Golan_families_dream_.shtml |title=Worldandnation: Golan families dream of reunion |publisher=Sptimes.com |access-date=2008-10-25}}</ref> Since 1993, 67 Syrian brides have crossed into the Golan Heights and 11 brides from the Golan have crossed into Syria through the Quneitra crossing.<ref> {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090411071408/http://yalibnan.com/site/archives/2007/10/one_way_ticket.php |date=April 11, 2009 }}</ref> This issue was the topic of the award-winning movie, '']''.


The terminal usually closes at 6 p.m. but can be opened at any time to handle humanitarian emergencies, such as the transfer to Israel of a Druze dentistry student who suffered a stroke while studying in Syria.<ref></ref> The terminal usually closes at 6 p.m. but can be opened at any time to handle humanitarian emergencies, such as the transfer to Israel of a Druze dentistry student who suffered a stroke while studying in Syria.<ref></ref>


{{anchor|civilwar}}On 6 June 2013 the crossing was attacked by Syrian rebels and temporarily occupied. Syrian government forces were able to quickly retake the crossing. A Filipino peacekeeper of the ] was wounded during the fighting. As a result the Austrian government announced to withdraw its troops from the UN mission.<ref name="standard66">{{cite news |url=http://derstandard.at/1369362784181/Oesterreichische-Blauhelme-auf-Golan-unter-schwerem-Beschuss |title=Österreich zieht seine Blauhelme von umkämpften Golanhöhen ab |language=German |date=6 June 2013 |accessdate=6 June 2013 |work=]}}</ref><ref name="grauniad1306">{{cite news |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/06/syrian-golan-crossing-israeli-military-quneitra |title=Austria to withdraw Golan Heights peacekeepers over Syrian fighting |work=] |date=6 June 2013 |accessdate=6 June 2013}}</ref> {{anchor|civilwar}}On 6 June 2013 the crossing was attacked by Syrian rebels and temporarily occupied. Syrian government forces were able to quickly retake the crossing. A Filipino peacekeeper of the ] was wounded during the fighting. As a result, the Austrian government announced to withdraw its troops from the UN mission.<ref name="standard66">{{cite news |url=http://derstandard.at/1369362784181/Oesterreichische-Blauhelme-auf-Golan-unter-schwerem-Beschuss |title=Österreich zieht seine Blauhelme von umkämpften Golanhöhen ab |language=de |date=6 June 2013 |access-date=6 June 2013 |work=]}}</ref><ref name="grauniad1306">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jun/06/syrian-golan-crossing-israeli-military-quneitra |title=Austria to withdraw Golan Heights peacekeepers over Syrian fighting |work=] |date=6 June 2013 |access-date=6 June 2013}}</ref>


On 27 August 2014 Syrian rebels again occupied the crossing.<ref> accessdate=2014-08-28</ref> On 27 August 2014 Syrian rebels again occupied the crossing.<ref> accessdate=2014-08-28</ref>

<gallery widths="200px" heights="150px">
Quneitra was reopened on 15 October 2018, for UNDOF personnel.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/international/middle-east/186387-181015-road-to-recovery-syria-opens-two-key-crossings-with-jordan-israel|title=Road to recovery: Syria opens two key crossings with Jordan, Israel|last=i24NEWS|work=i24NEWS|access-date=2018-10-15|language=en-US}}</ref>
File:Flickr - Israel Defense Forces - Apple Export at Quneitra Crossing (8).jpg|Apples grown by Israeli civilians in the Golan Heights being transferred to Syria via the Quneitra crossing
<gallery widths="200" heights="150">
Image:Flickr - Israel Defense Forces - Apple Export at Quneitra Crossing (1).jpg|Apple transferres to Syria at Quneitra crossing, February 2011
File:Flickr - Israel Defense Forces - Apple Export at Quneitra Crossing (8).jpg|Apples in the Golan Heights being transferred to Syria via the Quneitra crossing
File:Flickr - Israel Defense Forces - Apple Export at Quneitra Crossing (1).jpg|Apples transferred to Syria at Quneitra crossing, February 2011
</gallery> </gallery>


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==External links== ==External links==
{{commonscat|Kuneitra border crossing}} {{commons category|Kuneitra border crossing}}
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Latest revision as of 08:45, 7 December 2024

Ceasefire line crossing in the Golan Heights
Quneitra Crossing
تقاطع القنيطرة
מעבר קוניטרה‎
Israeli-occupied side of the Quneitra Crossing
Coordinates33°06′46″N 35°48′57″E / 33.1128°N 35.8158°E / 33.1128; 35.8158
CarriesPedestrians, commercial goods, humanitarian missions
CrossesPurple Line
LocaleGolan Heights
Official nameQuneitra Crossing
تقاطع القنيطرة
מעבר קוניטרה‎
Maintained byIsrael Defense Forces
UNDOF
International Committee of the Red Cross
Location

The Quneitra Crossing (Arabic: تقاطع القنيطرة, Hebrew: מעבר קוניטרה) is a border crossing through the purple ceasefire line into the UNDOF controlled area between the Syrian controlled and the Israeli-occupied portion of the Golan Heights. It is on the southwestern outskirts of Quneitra, and not far from the Israeli settlement of Ein Zivan in the Golan Heights. Syrian Druze from the Golan Heights are permitted to cross through the passage to study, work and live in Syria proper. The crossing is also used for the transfer of apples grown by Druze farmers under the auspices of the Red Cross. The only concrete guard post along the ceasefire line is at the Quneitra crossing.

History

The opening of a crossing at Quneitra took place after the Yom Kippur War in 1973. The UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) established its headquarters along the border. In order to carry out its work, UNDOF needed to move freely between Israel and Syria.

Since 2004, Druze have exported apples to Syria through the crossing. In 2010, some 10,000 tons of apples grown by Druze farmers in the Golan Heights were sent to Syria. In 2010, the Israeli government authorized a pilgrimage to Syria by a group of 300 Druze citizens of Israel interested in visiting religious sites there. A group of dancers from five Druze villages in the Golan Heights was sent to Aleppo to perform in a dabka competition. Israeli Druze civilians are permitted to cross the border at Quneitra for university studies and marriage. Since 1993, 67 Syrian brides have crossed into the Golan Heights and 11 brides from the Golan have crossed into Syria through the Quneitra crossing. This issue was the topic of the award-winning movie, The Syrian Bride.

The terminal usually closes at 6 p.m. but can be opened at any time to handle humanitarian emergencies, such as the transfer to Israel of a Druze dentistry student who suffered a stroke while studying in Syria.

On 6 June 2013 the crossing was attacked by Syrian rebels and temporarily occupied. Syrian government forces were able to quickly retake the crossing. A Filipino peacekeeper of the UNDOF was wounded during the fighting. As a result, the Austrian government announced to withdraw its troops from the UN mission.

On 27 August 2014 Syrian rebels again occupied the crossing.

Quneitra was reopened on 15 October 2018, for UNDOF personnel.

  • Apples in the Golan Heights being transferred to Syria via the Quneitra crossing Apples in the Golan Heights being transferred to Syria via the Quneitra crossing
  • Apples transferred to Syria at Quneitra crossing, February 2011 Apples transferred to Syria at Quneitra crossing, February 2011

References

  1. Druze women protest in call to open Golan border crossing Haaretz, Oct. 8, 2007
  2. Druze Farmers in Israel's Golan Heights Sell Apples to Syria NPR, March 14, 2005
  3. Syrian refugees to seek shelter in Israel?
  4. A fragile calm
  5. Israeli trucks cross into Syria in annual 'apple invasion'
  6. Israeli Druze to go on historic visit to Syria
  7. Hebrew press sees thaw in Syria-Israel relations
  8. "Worldandnation: Golan families dream of reunion". Sptimes.com. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
  9. One way ticket for Druze Syrian brides Archived April 11, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  10. Patient transferred from Syria to Israel
  11. "Österreich zieht seine Blauhelme von umkämpften Golanhöhen ab". Der Standard (in German). 6 June 2013. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
  12. "Austria to withdraw Golan Heights peacekeepers over Syrian fighting". The Guardian. 6 June 2013. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
  13. Syrian Rebels Take Control of Crossing in the Golan accessdate=2014-08-28
  14. i24NEWS. "Road to recovery: Syria opens two key crossings with Jordan, Israel". i24NEWS. Retrieved 2018-10-15.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)

External links

Israeli border crossings and checkpoints
 Israel's
Mutually recognised
international borders
 Egypt
 Jordan
 Lebanon
Crossings at or within Israeli-occupied territories
 Gaza Strip and  Egypt
Israel Gaza envelope and  Gaza Strip
Witin the State of Palestine Occupied West Bank
Golan Heights and the rest of  Syria
Israeli-occupied territories, Controlled by invading Israeli forces since May 2024.
Syrian border crossings
with  Lebanon:
with  Jordan:
with  Iraq:
with  Turkey:
with Israeli-occupied Golan Heights:

33°06′46″N 35°48′57″E / 33.11278°N 35.81583°E / 33.11278; 35.81583

Categories: