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The Golan Heights or Golan is a plateau on the border of Israel, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria. Its geographical borders encompass about 1,800 square kilometres in area, although the term often refers only to 1,200 square kilometres of this territory which are disputed between Israel and Syria.

The name "Golan" refers both to the historical name of a geographic region, and, in contemporary usage, to territory captured by Israel from Syria in the Six-Day War (the captured territory also includes parts of Mount Hermon, which is a different geographic region than Golan Heights). Syria asserts the Heights are within the governorate of al Qunaytirah.

In the 1967 Six-Day War Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria, and again in the 1973 Yom Kippur War. Most of the population of around 53,000 fled.In the 1970s, new Jewish settlements were founded in the captured area. In addition to its strategic importance,the Golan Heights is part of the Jordan River watershed, which provides a significant portion of Israel's water supply. In 1981, Israel applied its "laws, jurisdiction and administration" in the Golan Heights with the Golan Heights Law, governing it as part of its North District. This annexation was not internationally recognized and United Nations Security Council Resolution 242 considers the area part of Israeli occupied territories. Israel maintains it may retain the area under the text of Resolution 242 calling for its right for "safe and recognized boundaries free from threats or acts of force".