Qatzrin
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Qatzrin, Katzrin or Kazerin (Hebrew: קצרין) is the administrative center and largest town of the disputed Golan Heights which Israel occupied from Syrian control in the 1967 Six Day War. The city offers panoramic views of the surrounding landscapes. To the south is the Kinneret, to the north Mount Hermon, and to the west the hills of the Galilee. Qatzrin was established in 1977 after the government of Israel decided settling and populating the Golan Heights was of prime importance for Israel. In addition, Qatzrin was planned as an urban center that would provide a variety of services to the rural communities and military bases scattered throughout the Golan. Since 1981 the Golan Heights have been under Israeli law, though Qatzrin is widely viewed internationally as an illegal Israeli settlement.
As of mid 2005 there are 6,400 people living in Qatzrin. The community was planned to grow into a city of 25,000 residents. Qatzrin has an educational system and academic centers that serve the residents of the entire region, industrial plants, and facilities of culture and recreation.
Qatzrin is a major center of tourism in the Golan Heights due to the historical sites it boasts. One of these is the ancient Talmudic village of Qasrin (the source of the name ‘Qatzrin ’) which was destroyed in an earthquake 1300 years ago. The village has archeological remains of a synagogue, partially reconstructed, and foundations of ancient houses. The Museum of Golan Antiquities displays the archeological finds uncovered in the Golan.
Qatzrin is home to a kosher winery and a mineral water plant. It also has a small mall.
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