http://www.lightstalkers.org/galleries/contact_sheet/21162 In 1967 the Israeli army sent an offensive against the bordering states of Jordan, Syria and Egypt which would have been remembered as the “Six days warâ€* and ended with the occupation of Sinai and the Golan Heights. The place knows as Golan (al-Jawlan in Arabic) represents an area of geo-strategic importance for the Hebrew state, from the military point of view, since his dominant position on the South of Lebanon, Syria and also Northern Israel, and is also very important from the agricultural point of view for the fertile soils but most of all for the big water-resources of which the region disposes. For these reasons instead of the Sinai (given back to Egypt in 1982 for the accords of Camp David) there have never been peace interviews that foresees the restitution of this area, and instead Israel in 1981 decided to include the Golan Heights in his territory as part of the state. Since the first week of occupation the Israeli army carried out an extensive ethnic cleansing operation, forcing the majority of the Arab population to emigrate in Syria (about 132.000 people against the 6.000 remained) and also destroying their villages. Subsequently the government adopted numerous politics in order to control and contain the Syrian population, moving various families from their homes, dividing in an unfair way the water resources, shaving to the ground farms and villages, preventing the towns remained to expand and dispossessing private and public ownership. Nowadays in the Golan live about 17.000 Jewish farmers scattered in 33 settlements, most of all built on the ruins of the Arab villages, and about 20.000 Syrians against the 500.000 native of the region forced to live outside there, separated from their families and friends; in the Golan there are also 60 military training camps and basis, some of them inside Arab cities like Majdal Shams (the biggest one), to keep under control the population, and 76 mined fields, in addition to an indeterminate number of unexploded devices that since the beginning of the occupation have already caused the death of 37 people and 76 wounded. The photographic project of Luigi Vaccarella intends to tell with dry and simple images the reality of a land of great beauty transformed and stunned by the war, and shows the most significant places of this problematic region, the villages shaved to the ground, abandoned and reduced to pastures for livestock, the trenches, the mined fields, the military posting and the commemorative places of the Israeli victory, all symbolic sceneries of a situation that will have to be solved in order to obtain a long-lasting peace. http://www.lightstalkers.org en-us http://images.lightstalkers.org/avatars/18129/DSCN2483_small.JPG http://www.lightstalkers.org/Luigi Vaccarella <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/873076/001_small.jpg' /><br />The Mont Bental, once a military position during the "six days war", now a commemorative place of the israeli victory.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873076'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873076 Wed, 03 Jun 2009 15:19:33 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873076 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/873076/001_small.jpg' /><br />The Mont Bental, once a military position during the "six days war", now a commemorative place of the israeli victory.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873076'>view full-size image</a> Luigi Vaccarella <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/873082/002_small.jpg' /><br />The village of Ain Fit, one of the biggest of the region, after the war is just pasture land for the livestock.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873082'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873082 Wed, 03 Jun 2009 15:22:16 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873082 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/873082/002_small.jpg' /><br />The village of Ain Fit, one of the biggest of the region, after the war is just pasture land for the livestock.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873082'>view full-size image</a> Luigi Vaccarella <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/873085/003_small.jpg' /><br />The road to Quneitra.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873085'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873085 Wed, 03 Jun 2009 15:06:07 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873085 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/873085/003_small.jpg' /><br />The road to Quneitra.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873085'>view full-size image</a> Luigi Vaccarella <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/873094/004_small.jpg' /><br />The Mont Bental, once a military position during the "six days war", now a commemorative place of the israeli victory.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873094'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873094 Wed, 03 Jun 2009 15:06:15 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873094 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/873094/004_small.jpg' /><br />The Mont Bental, once a military position during the "six days war", now a commemorative place of the israeli victory.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873094'>view full-size image</a> Luigi Vaccarella <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/873097/005_small.jpg' /><br />The destroyed mosque of Hushniya.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873097'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873097 Wed, 03 Jun 2009 15:06:21 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873097 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/873097/005_small.jpg' /><br />The destroyed mosque of Hushniya.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873097'>view full-size image</a> Luigi Vaccarella <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/873100/006_small.jpg' /><br />Destroyed house in the village of Ain Fit.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873100'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873100 Wed, 03 Jun 2009 15:06:43 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873100 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/873100/006_small.jpg' /><br />Destroyed house in the village of Ain Fit.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873100'>view full-size image</a> Luigi Vaccarella <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/873103/007_small.jpg' /><br />The village of Ain Fit, once one of the biggest of the region, now pasture land for the livestock.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873103'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873103 Wed, 03 Jun 2009 15:07:23 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873103 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/873103/007_small.jpg' /><br />The village of Ain Fit, once one of the biggest of the region, now pasture land for the livestock.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873103'>view full-size image</a> Luigi Vaccarella <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/873109/008_small.jpg' /><br />Mines field near the syrian border.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873109'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873109 Wed, 03 Jun 2009 15:07:58 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873109 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/873109/008_small.jpg' /><br />Mines field near the syrian border.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873109'>view full-size image</a> Luigi Vaccarella <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/873112/009_small.jpg' /><br />Old military sign on the road to Quneitra.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873112'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873112 Wed, 03 Jun 2009 15:08:27 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873112 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/873112/009_small.jpg' /><br />Old military sign on the road to Quneitra.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873112'>view full-size image</a> Luigi Vaccarella <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/873115/010_small.jpg' /><br />Old trenches.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873115'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873115 Wed, 03 Jun 2009 15:09:01 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873115 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/873115/010_small.jpg' /><br />Old trenches.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873115'>view full-size image</a> Luigi Vaccarella <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/873118/011_small.jpg' /><br />Mines field. In the backgrond the border with Syria.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873118'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873118 Wed, 03 Jun 2009 15:09:30 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873118 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/873118/011_small.jpg' /><br />Mines field. In the backgrond the border with Syria.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873118'>view full-size image</a> Luigi Vaccarella <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/873121/012_small.jpg' /><br />Mines field in the middle of Majdal Shams, the biggest arab town of the region. here on this hill a children died on a mine in 1988.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873121'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873121 Wed, 03 Jun 2009 15:10:07 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873121 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/873121/012_small.jpg' /><br />Mines field in the middle of Majdal Shams, the biggest arab town of the region. here on this hill a children died on a mine in 1988.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873121'>view full-size image</a> Luigi Vaccarella <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/873124/013_small.jpg' /><br />Majdal Shams, israeli troops patroling the border with Syria. <br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873124'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873124 Wed, 03 Jun 2009 15:10:51 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873124 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/873124/013_small.jpg' /><br />Majdal Shams, israeli troops patroling the border with Syria. <br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873124'>view full-size image</a> Luigi Vaccarella <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/873127/014_small.jpg' /><br />Merom Golan, the first israeli settlement built in the Golan right after the war, in 1967.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873127'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873127 Wed, 03 Jun 2009 15:11:25 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873127 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/873127/014_small.jpg' /><br />Merom Golan, the first israeli settlement built in the Golan right after the war, in 1967.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873127'>view full-size image</a> Luigi Vaccarella <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/873133/015_small.jpg' /><br />Israeli - Syrian border, UNDOF disengagment area.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873133'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873133 Wed, 03 Jun 2009 15:11:59 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873133 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/873133/015_small.jpg' /><br />Israeli - Syrian border, UNDOF disengagment area.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873133'>view full-size image</a> Luigi Vaccarella <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/873136/016_small.jpg' /><br />Destroyed house in the village of Ain Fit.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873136'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873136 Wed, 03 Jun 2009 15:12:25 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873136 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/873136/016_small.jpg' /><br />Destroyed house in the village of Ain Fit.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873136'>view full-size image</a> Luigi Vaccarella <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/873139/017_small.jpg' /><br />The village of Ain Fit, once one of the biggest of the region, now pasture land for the livestock.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873139'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873139 Wed, 03 Jun 2009 15:12:53 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873139 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/873139/017_small.jpg' /><br />The village of Ain Fit, once one of the biggest of the region, now pasture land for the livestock.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873139'>view full-size image</a> Luigi Vaccarella <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/873142/018_small.jpg' /><br />Mont Bental, old bunker.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873142'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873142 Wed, 03 Jun 2009 15:13:21 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873142 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/873142/018_small.jpg' /><br />Mont Bental, old bunker.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873142'>view full-size image</a> Luigi Vaccarella <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/873148/019_small.jpg' /><br />The destroyed mosque of Hushniya.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873148'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873148 Wed, 03 Jun 2009 15:13:43 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873148 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/873148/019_small.jpg' /><br />The destroyed mosque of Hushniya.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873148'>view full-size image</a> Luigi Vaccarella <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/873151/020_small.jpg' /><br />The destroyed mosque of Hushniya.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873151'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873151 Wed, 03 Jun 2009 15:14:08 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873151 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/873151/020_small.jpg' /><br />The destroyed mosque of Hushniya.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873151'>view full-size image</a> Luigi Vaccarella <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/873154/021_small.jpg' /><br />The village of Hushniya shaved to the ground.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873154'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873154 Wed, 03 Jun 2009 15:14:39 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873154 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/873154/021_small.jpg' /><br />The village of Hushniya shaved to the ground.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873154'>view full-size image</a> Luigi Vaccarella <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/873157/022_small.jpg' /><br />A house shaved to the ground in the destroyed village of Hushniya.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873157'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873157 Wed, 03 Jun 2009 15:15:06 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873157 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/873157/022_small.jpg' /><br />A house shaved to the ground in the destroyed village of Hushniya.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873157'>view full-size image</a> Luigi Vaccarella <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/873164/023_small.jpg' /><br />Destroyed village on the road to Jubata Ez-Zeit.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873164'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873164 Wed, 03 Jun 2009 15:16:33 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873164 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/873164/023_small.jpg' /><br />Destroyed village on the road to Jubata Ez-Zeit.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873164'>view full-size image</a> Luigi Vaccarella <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/873169/024_small.jpg' /><br />Destroyed house in the village of Ain Fit.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873169'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873169 Wed, 03 Jun 2009 15:17:04 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873169 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/873169/024_small.jpg' /><br />Destroyed house in the village of Ain Fit.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873169'>view full-size image</a> Luigi Vaccarella <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/873172/025_small.jpg' /><br />Old trench.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873172'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873172 Wed, 03 Jun 2009 15:17:33 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873172 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/873172/025_small.jpg' /><br />Old trench.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873172'>view full-size image</a> Luigi Vaccarella <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/873175/026_small.jpg' /><br />Old military position near a destroyed village.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873175'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873175 Wed, 03 Jun 2009 15:17:58 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873175 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/873175/026_small.jpg' /><br />Old military position near a destroyed village.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873175'>view full-size image</a> Luigi Vaccarella <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/873178/027_small.jpg' /><br />Old syrian tank.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873178'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873178 Wed, 03 Jun 2009 15:18:30 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873178 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/873178/027_small.jpg' /><br />Old syrian tank.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873178'>view full-size image</a> Luigi Vaccarella <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/873181/029_small.jpg' /><br />The road to the mines field in the middle of Majdal Shams, the biggest arab town of the region. <br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873181'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873181 Wed, 03 Jun 2009 17:12:07 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873181 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/873181/029_small.jpg' /><br />The road to the mines field in the middle of Majdal Shams, the biggest arab town of the region. <br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/873181'>view full-size image</a> Luigi Vaccarella