Israeli District Northern District Syrian Governorate Quneitra Governorate Population 2,014 (1920) | Israeli Subdistrict Golan Syrian District Quneitra District | |
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Country Golan Heights, internationally recognized as Syrian territory occupied by Israel Weather 11°C, Wind NW at 6 km/h, 91% Humidity | ||
Ein Qiniyye or 'Ayn Qunya (Arabic: عين قنية; Hebrew: עֵין קֻנִיֶּה) is a Druze village in the Israeli-occupied southern foothills of Mount Hermon, 750 meters above sea level. It was granted local council status in 1982. Its inhabitants are mostly Syrian citizens with permanent residency status in Israel (for more about the status and position of the Golan Heights Druze community see here). In 2015 it had a population of 1,945.
Map of Ein Kinya
It is one of the four remaining Druze-Syrian communities on the Israeli-occupied side of Mount Hermon and the Golan Heights, together with Majdal Shams, Mas'ade and Buq'ata. Geographically a distinction is made between the Golan Heights and Mount Hermon, the boundary being marked by the Sa'ar Stream; however, administratively usually they are being lumped together. Ein Qiniyye and Majdal Shams are on the Hermon side of the boundary, thus sitting on limestone, while Buq'ata and Mas'ade are on the Golan side, characterised by black volcanic rock (basalt).
Since the adoption of the 1981 Golan Heights Law, Ein Qiniyye is under Israeli civil law, and incorporated into the Israeli system of local councils. Some of the young people of the village used to study at Syrian universities, but at the end of 2012 a Druze cleric advised them against applying until the war was over. For more about the status and position of the Golan Heights Druze community see here.