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A PERSON WHO loses his homeland is like a child who loses his mother. Syria is our mother.
THE GOLAN HEIGHTS were seized by Israel from Syria during the 1967 Six-Day War. Most of the Arab inhabitants fled during the conflict.
Before the occupation there were 136 villages in the area, most of which have been destroyed. In 1982 – in violation of a UN resolution – Israel annexed the Golan Heights, forcing Israeli citizenship on the Arab residents. People refused to accept this and, as a result, their nationality is classed as ‘undefined’.
About 22,000 Arabs remain, as well as 20,000 Jewish settlers.
Since 2005, the Red Cross has facilitated the transport of apples from the Druze farmers of the Golan Heights into Syria. It is the only trade between Israel and Syria.
In Apples of the Golan, two Irish filmmakers – Keith Walsh and Jill Beardsworth – have documented the life of residents of Majdal Shams, one of the five remaining villages, over a five-year period.
Filming began in 2007 and ended in 2012, the year after civil war broke out in Syria.
Walsh said returning to Majdal Shams after the Syrian uprising was an interesting experience as he witnessed first-hand how some families had become divided over the war.
Family dinners would have two sittings: one for members of the family who are pro-regime and one for members who are anti-regime.
Walsh said it would be difficult to put a figure on how many people in the village remain loyal, publicly at least, to Bashar al-Assad – but that it appears to be in the region of 85-90%.
“Israeli occupation wasn’t able to divide the community like the Syrian conflict has,” Walsh noted.
Even when people didn’t agree with Assad, they were still united. They didn’t want to appear divided by the Israeli occupation as this would make them weak.
Many of the villagers rely on the apple trade to survive.
Crossing the Syrian border
The Quneitra crossing is the only way into Syria from the Golan Heights. Before the outbreak of the war four things could cross the border: apples, brides, students and pilgrims. Once a bride went to Syria she could not return to the Heights, and vice versa.
Druze students received grants to study in Syria. They were not allowed to return home during term, but could do so in the summer.
In August of last year, the Syrian side of the border crossing between Israel and Syria was captured by rebel forces including several Islamist groups. Whilst it is in their control, the movement of apples and people has ceased, further isolating the Golan Heights.
Due to their beliefs, the Druze are regarded as infidels and heretics by these Islamic groups. They fear persecution if Assad completely loses power.
“The Druze are a very pragmatic bunch, they’ve been on the fringes of Muslim society for a long time and have been persecuted for it,” Walsh said.
If people in the Heights came out against Assad before the war, their families would have been persecuted in Syria.
More than 76,000 Syrians were killed in the war in 2014 – making it the bloodiest year since the conflict began in 2011.
Beardsworth said she and Walsh are “delighted that our film is being released at a time when the Golan Heights region is at the centre of political discourse, both nationally and internationally”.
Apples of the Golan has been screened in several countries, taking home the jury prize for best documentary at the Baghdad International Film Festival in 2013.
It is currently running at the IFI in Dublin and will be screened in a number of cinemas nationally. The film will be released on iTunes on Monday. More information is available here.
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Meh.
A watch that you have to charge daily ?
Just not practical. Why bother when you have your phone with you.
Which, depending on usage, you may have to charge daily.
I’m not convinced by any of these smart watches. What’s wrong with a “Thick as two short planks” watch? Stick a battery in, last couple years, and it tells the time.
That’s why you never but first generation of a new product. I’ll consider the third or fourth version
Better still, buy an automatic mechanical watch and you’ll never have to get a battery for it. And it’s kinda cooler when you think of this little engine running on your wrist.
Or a solar powered version , mine works great and automatically corrects its self each night with wave receptor. I expect it to our live me.
I just don’t get smart watches. I wouldn’t want to charge my watch every day. Not only that, but I prefer a normal watch. It’s more stylish!
I picked up a Samsung Gear fit last year for 100 quid when upgrading my phone. I wasn’t convinced when I got it but I have to say, I really like it now.
I’ve to charge it every 4 days or so overnight, which isn’t a hassle and nowadays, with the notifications that appear on screen I never take my phone from my pocket unless it’s something I need to reply to. Also, I hadn’t worn a watch in years and paying 100 for a watch doesn’t seem foolish.
It’s worth noting most of what I’ve said said above does not apply for the Apple watch…
Brave. Lol. Anti-Apple troll with very weak argument! You just could not resist…
If you say so, but I’m replying from my iPhone 5S while my 2011 MacBook Pro is beside me so your point is invalid, pal.
I can’t see myself buying one of these gadgets.
Is it just me or do all the straps look hideous?
It’s just you. Soz.
I was thinking the opposite, Neal.
I’m not a fan of rubber straps (stoppit!) but I think the colourful ones look good. The cheaper versions look better than the metal ones. It’s not a great looking watch at all though. I think some of the other smart watch offerings from other companies are streets ahead.
That said I still wouldn’t buy one. I’d never remember to charge the f’ing thing!
It looks more Fisher Price than Apple.
I’ll stick with my Breitling thank you very much!
Breitling is probably one watch brand which is even more vulgar that the Apple Watch, truth be told.
I like most of their styles, A few of the over the top ones are tacky.
The best way to have a jab at someone wearing a Breitling watch is to look at them assumingly and say, ‘Oh cool, so do you own your own plane or have a fractional lease?
Very good!
I find them far too blingy. Most of the bracelets are polished which just screams! I kind of like the Superocean though, but only on the “chain-link” type strap. The Navitimer is a bit of an horological masterpiece, but it’s too big for me.
Personally I love mechanical watches, I have several from different companies. I don’t see anything vulgar about them. But each to their own I guess!
I love mechanical watches too David, just not Breitlings. That was my point. I have some great automatics which I love and wouldn’t swap for an Apple Watch in a million years.
I agree about the bracelets on most of their models. I have the Navitimer 01 on black leather strap. I love it. I don’t think I’d ever buy the Apple watch, I prefer the old fashioned mechanical ones.
Probably because they are nothing special . Maybe the apple fanatics are finally copping on. There are much better looking / more functional smart watches out there .
Where can I buy the gold watch for 1200 euro ? I see a killing to be made.
Arrived this morning at 7am.
Don’t know what they’re saying there’s major fanfare everywhere and on all the social media sites here.
Though I do have to laugh… I wanted to try the fitness application because I’m concerned about my weight. Maybe try going to the gym then instead of spending two days outside the Apple Store.
You could also buy a weighing scales and weigh yourself after a brisk walk each day. Worked for people way before apple thought of this genius idea.
1 day battery life on a watch… haha funny that! Apple have said it needs to be re-charged nightly.
iRubbish for iFools.
iShutup
Ok hang on a second. This whole fitness thing. If i buy an Apple Watch and go for a run do i need to bring my iPhone with me? If so then whats the fuppin point father!!
And today’s Father Ted comment comes from…..
Pointless. But then, I had a manager 15 years my senior call me ‘old school’ for wearing a watch recently (instead of using my phone as a clock).
My watch charges itself on the kinetic energy of my moving arm. Why would I want a want a watch that needs to be plugged in every night? To show me the notifications I’m missing on my phone?
I stay in hotels at least once a week on average, 95% of which don’t have a plug near the bed. This would spend more time out of power than in power for me.
Smart phones are really just trying to force a gadget revolution where one isn’t needed. If I’m going to have wearable tech then I expect it to do something a little more, and at least convert my motion into energy.
I do own a GPS watch, but its for running, and doesn’t need to be any ‘smart’er than it is.
The gloss has been taken off Apple Down Under following revelations 2 weeks ago before a Senate Inquiry
the Apple Australasia is a subsidiary of Apple Ireland and that Apple uses the “Double Irish” to aggressively
minimise its Aussie tax. And by the look of it, Ireland’s reputation also took a body blow.
Apple is on the nose in Aus since a Senate Inquiry Down Under 2 weeks ago revealed that Apple may
not be a good corporate citizen-taxpayer due to a complicated supply arrangements via Ireland which
permits it to aggressively minimise its Australian tax. This has stunned many loyal Apple users down here.
They don’t mention that in order for the watch to work – you have to have the expensive iPhone also to connect it too.
Thanks but no thanks. 70%+ of Apples stuff comes from their genuine rival Samsung. Google it of you think this is false.
If I want something expensive in my life, I would (if I had rock in the head) vote for FG and Labour again in 2016 – not buy this over-priced stuff.
People complaining about having to charge it every day seem to be oblivious to the fact that watches and clocks used to have to be wound up every day.
have your say