Ghajar

Ghajar is a small village.

It sits on a river. It is near a line between two lands. This line is called the Blue Line.

Many people live in the village. They make tasty food. One dish has corn and milk. Another dish is a warm stew. People like to visit the village now. It is a busy place to see.

Ghajar is a small village on the Hasbani River. It sits right on the border of Lebanon and the Golan Heights.

The name Ghajar means "gypsy" in Arabic. Many people who live there are Alawites. They often feel they are Syrian.

A line called the Blue Line divides the village. This line shows the border between the two lands. For a long time, the village was split in two. Part was in Lebanon and part was in the Golan Heights. Now, Israel holds the whole village.

People in Ghajar make very tasty food. One dish is called mitabla. It uses corn and wheat cooked in milk. They also make a stew called bisara. This stew has chickpeas and onions.

In 2022, the village opened to visitors. It has become a popular place to see. Some days, 4,000 people come to visit. Many people work in nearby towns. They travel and work freely within Israel. The village is a special place where different lands meet.

Ghajar is a small village sitting on the Hasbani River. It is located right on the border between Lebanon and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. The name of the village means "gypsy" in Arabic. Most people living there are Alawites. Many of these residents consider themselves to be Syrian.

Control over this village has changed many times throughout history. In 1535, Ottoman tax records called the settlement Taranja. This name might come from an old Aramaic word. Later, the name Ghajar became common. Some stories say the land was once taken by Kurds. Local legend tells of a Kurdish governor and a holy man named Sheikh al-Arba'in.

In 1932, the people of Ghajar chose to be part of Syria. This was before the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. After that war, Israel took control of the Golan Heights. The villagers asked to stay part of the occupied territory. They did this because they felt they were Syrian. In 1981, most villagers were pressured into having Israeli citizenship.

In 2000, Israel withdrew its troops from Lebanon. The United Nations then drew a border called the Blue Line. This line split Ghajar into two parts. The northern half was in Lebanon and the southern half was in the Golan Heights. However, Israel re-occupied the northern half during the 2006 Lebanon War. Today, Israel still holds the entire village and the land around it.

Life in Ghajar is changing as it becomes a popular place for visitors. In 2022, the village opened up to people from outside. Some days, up to 4,000 visitors come to see the area. Many residents work in the nearby town of Kiryat Shmona. People also come to try the local food. They might eat mitabla, which is wheat and corn in milk. They also enjoy bisara, a stew made with chickpeas and onions.

Ghajar is a small village located on the Hasbani River. It sits directly on the border between Lebanon and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. The name Ghajar translates to "gypsy" in Arabic. Most of the residents are Alawites, which is a specific religious group. While the village is physically split by a border, the people living there share a unique identity. Many residents consider themselves Syrian, even though they hold Israeli identity cards.

The history of the village shows how names and people change over time. In 1535, Ottoman tax registers recorded the settlement as Taranjeh. This name likely comes from an older Aramaic or pre-Arabic word. Later, the name Ghajar became the standard name for the area. This new name may have been an ethnonym, which is a name used to describe a group of people. It likely referred to non-Arab inhabitants who lived there in the past. Some local legends even claim the land was once seized by Kurds during the Ottoman era. One story tells of a Kurdish governor whose horse refused to step on the tomb of a holy man named Sheikh al-Arba'in.

In the early 20th century, the residents made important decisions about their nationality. In 1932, the predominantly Alawite population was given a choice. They overwhelmingly chose to be part of Syria. Before the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, Ghajar was officially part of Syria. It was one of three mainly Alawite villages in the Golan Heights, along with Za'ura and 'Ayn Fit. The 1960 Syrian census included the residents of Ghajar as Syrian citizens.

The modern era brought significant changes through conflict and new borders. When Israel captured the Golan Heights in 1967, Ghajar became a no-man's land for two and a half months. The villagers petitioned the Israeli governor to attach them to the occupied Golan Heights. They did this because they identified as Syrians. Israel agreed to this request. In 1981, the Israeli government passed the Golan Heights Law. This law annexed the territory to Israel. Under pressure from authorities, most Alawite villagers accepted Israeli citizenship during this time.

In 2000, Israel withdrew its troops from Lebanon. To create a permanent boundary, the United Nations drew a line called the Blue Line. This line divided Ghajar into two distinct sections. The northern half of the village fell under Lebanese control. The southern half remained under Israeli occupation. This division caused significant tension. In 2005, Hezbollah launched a missile at the village. Following more attacks in 2006, Israel invaded southern Lebanon. During the 2006 Lebanon War, Israel re-occupied the northern half of Ghajar.

Since then, the status of the village has remained complicated. In 2009 and 2010, there were discussions about Israel withdrawing from the northern part of the village. Residents protested these plans because they did not want the village to be divided. While Israel intended to move security matters to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), the process stalled. The Syrian Civil War also caused Israel to halt its redeployment along the border. Currently, Israel continues to occupy the entire village and the land crossing the Blue Line. This includes a small area inside Lebanese territory.

Despite these political tensions, Ghajar has become a growing center for tourism. In September 2022, the Israel Defense Forces lifted restrictions on the village. This allowed visitors from outside the community to enter for the first time in years. The village has become a local hotspot for travelers. In 2022, local officials reported that up to 4,000 visitors arrived every day. Many residents work in the nearby Israeli town of Kiryat Shmona. Others have started organizing local tours and home hospitality to welcome these guests.

The culture of Ghajar is also expressed through its unique cuisine. Visitors often come to try traditional dishes that represent the local heritage. One specialty is called mitabla, which consists of grains of wheat and corn cooked in milk. Another popular dish is bisara. This is a thick stew made from bulgur, chickpeas, and fried onions. It is often served with a sauce made of garlic and lemon. These foods offer a sensory connection to the history and identity of the Alawite community in this border region.