User talk:85.228.200.173

Hello, and welcome! Of course we all know that Israeli control of part of the Golan is not internationally recognized, and I can personally say that I certainly respect the feelings of anyone who's upset about that, but this site is practical, and the site's motto is the traveller comes first. This means that all de facto conditions are recognized on a practical level by Wikivoyage, regardless of how individual users feel about their existence. The reason for this is simple: If you want to visit the Israeli-ruled part of the Golan, you cannot do so by getting a Syrian visa, flying to Damascus, and renting a car, but you can easily do so by getting an Israeli visa, flying to Lod Airport, and travelling overland from there, and you won't be likely to face checkpoints as you would in the West Bank, let alone if you try to enter Gaza, so calling the Israeli-ruled part of the Golan an "occupation," while in keeping with international opinion, is not very helpful in explaining to the potential visitor what his/her experience will be like. If the situation ever changes - for example, if Syria reestablishes de facto control over all of the Golan - then the relevant Wikivoyage articles will change to reflect that, but not until then. I hope you understand.

All the best,

Ikan Kekek (talk) 12:18, 5 October 2013 (UTC)