Ghajar residents don't want to be part of Lebanon

"We were always Syrian, not Lebanese, we have Syrian ID cards from 1967," says Ghajar religious leader Abu Muhammad.

By ALEX SORIN
ghajar 248.88 (photo credit: AP [file])
ghajar 248.88
(photo credit: AP [file])
The people of Ghajar on the northern border fear that in a future agreement they will be handed over to Lebanon, even though they consider themselves Syrians and believe Hizbullah would massacre them for cooperating with Israel, residents say. In the event that peace is made between Syria and Israel, the residents hope to regain their Syrian citizenship. "We were always Syrian, not Lebanese, we have Syrian ID cards from 1967," said Ghajar religious leader Abu Muhammad. "We want to stay in our village that is Syrian land, not Israel and not Lebanon. We hope for peace in the Golan, and if so we would want to be part of Syria." Ayoub Kara (Likud), deputy minister for the development of the Negev and Galilee, said the people of Ghajar would rather remain part of Israel than Syria. "The people of Ghajar are citizens of Israel and that means that according to the law of Israel they have many rights and human rights, and the law is very important for them," he said. Kara confirmed, however, that if given an ultimatum to be either part of Syria or Lebanon, Ghajar residents would prefer to become Syrian citizens. "From the position of the leadership of Ghajar, if all of you [Israel] do not want us here, then send us to Syria, not to Lebanon," he said.