Majdal Shams

Place in North District 33°16′04″N 35°46′10″E  /  33.26778°N 35.76944°E  / 33.26778; 35.76944 Majdal Shams ( ; ) is a Druze village in the northern part of the Golan Heights , the center of Druze life in the region. Majdal Shams is situated in the southern foothills of Mt. Hermon , and is surrounded by thousands of dunams of orchards, the main crops of which include first class apples and cherries. Israel captured Majdal Shams in 1967 and has occupied it since. Majdal Shams is the largest of the four Druze villages in the Golan. According to the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics , as of September 2005 Majdal Shams's population was 8,800. The population growth rate is 2.5%. The ratio between men and women is 951 for every 1,000 men. The village is politically and spiritually governed by the Abu-Salah and Safdie families. The inhabitants of Majdal Shams hold Syrian citizenship. A year after Israel annexed the Golan, a six-month non-violent general strike was launched on April 14, 1982, in which Majdal Shams played a notable role. One kilometer east of the town center, on the other side of the valley, is the Shouting Hill (Hebrew גבעת צעקות), where Majdal Shams' Druze line up with bullhorns to make small-talk with relatives on the Syrian side. The busiest time seems to be Friday and Saturday afternoons. The Arabic name Majdal Shams is adapted from an Aramaic language name meaning "tower of the sun". Druze history and culture

Place in North District Majdal Shams ( ; ) is a Druze town in the southern foothills of Mt. Hermon , north of the Golan Heights . The majority of residents are of Syrian -Druze origin. Since the June 1967 Six-Day War , the village has been controlled by Israel , first under martial law , but since 1981 under Israeli civil law, and incorporated into the Israeli system of local councils . Majdal Shams is the largest of the four remaining Druze-Syrian communities on the Israeli-occupied side of Mount Hermon and the Golan Heights, together with Ein Qiniyye , Mas'ade and Buq'ata . Geologically and geographically a distinction is made between the Golan Heights and Mount Hermon, the boundary being marked by the Sa'ar Stream; however, administratively usually they are being lumped together. Majdal Shams and Ein Qiniyye are on the Hermon side of the boundary, thus sitting on limestone, while Buq'ata and Mas'ade are on the Golan side, characterised by black volcanic rock (basalt). [1] "Golan Druze celebrate across barbed wire" .

Town in Northern District Majdal Shams ( ; ) is a Druze town in the southern foothills of Mt. Hermon , north of the Golan Heights (also known as the capital of Golan Heights). The majority of residents are of Syrian -Druze origin. Since the June 1967 Six-Day War , the village has been governed by Israel , first under martial law , but since the adoption of the 1981 Golan Heights Law under Israeli civil law, and incorporated into the Israeli system of local councils . Majdal Shams is the largest of the four remaining Druze-Syrian communities on the Israeli-occupied side of Mount Hermon and the Golan Heights, together with Ein Qiniyye , Mas'ade and Buq'ata . Geologically and geographically a distinction is made between the Golan Heights and Mount Hermon, the boundary being marked by the Sa'ar Stream; however, administratively usually they are lumped together. Majdal Shams and Ein Qiniyye are on the Hermon side of the boundary, thus sitting on limestone, while Buq'ata and Mas'ade are on the Golan side, characterised by black volcanic rock (basalt). Israel Central Bureau of Statistics . [1] "Golan Druze celebrate across barbed wire" .

Town in Northern District Majdal Shams ( ; ) is a Druze town in the southern foothills of Mount Hermon , north of the Golan Heights , known as the informal "capital" of the Golan Heights. The majority of residents are Syrian Druze. Since the June 1967 Six-Day War , the village has been held by Israel as part of its military occupation of the Golan Heights, first under martial law , but since the adoption of the 1981 Golan Heights Law under Israeli civil law, and incorporated into the Israeli system of local councils . Majdal Shams is the largest of the four remaining Syrian Druze communities on the Israeli-occupied side of Mount Hermon and the Golan Heights, together with Ein Qiniyye , Mas'ade and Buq'ata . Geologically and geographically a distinction is made between the Golan Heights and Mount Hermon, the boundary being marked by the Sa'ar Stream; however, administratively usually they are lumped together. Majdal Shams and Ein Qiniyye are on the Hermon side of the boundary, thus sitting on limestone, while Buq'ata and Mas'ade are on the Golan side, characterised by black volcanic rock (basalt). Israel Central Bureau of Statistics .