Some important facts about the Golan Heights:

• The Golan Heights overlook and therefore militarily control, Israel's villages and cities in the plains and elevations in the north.

• The heights are roughly the size of the borough of Queens in New York.

• The width of the whole area is about 15 1/2 miles at its widest point.

• The Heights control the Kinneret, Israel's only lake and foremost water resource.