In an unusual display of Israeli-Syrian cooperation, an 85-year-old Druse woman was permitted to cross the Golan Heights into Syria last week to attend the funeral of a son she had not seen in many years.
Hindiya Hatib, from the village of Ein Kiniyeh, was accompanied by her daughter as she crossed the border at Kuneitra on March 25.
The crossing was facilitated with the help of the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Samir Dabus, chairman of the Ein Kiniyeh local council, praised the Syrian and Israeli authorities for processing Hatib’s application as speedily as possible.
“We have suffered for 26 years as a result of Syria and Israel being enemies. We hope that this situation will change and that families will not have to wait for years to be reunited and that borders will be open,” he said.
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