It’s been not just two weeks since the Syrian rebels sprung into a spree of excitement and joy of freedom with celebratory tunes being heard across the streets of Damascus, after former President Bashar-Al-Assad fled the country over night. Unfortunately, the celebration was indeed short lived as the territory became exposed to the world. Especially Israel, a country that has been struggling to have a clear territorial outline since decades and has been mired by conflicts, tussle and bloody battles with all the neighouring Arab settlements.
The conflict that Israel has been constantly putting up a strong face to dates back to 1917 when the British government issued the Balfour Declaration, which expressed support for the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine. In 1920, the British Mandate for Palestine was established, which allowed for Jewish immigration and the development of Jewish settlements. Between 1920 and 1947, hundreds of thousands of Jewish immigrants arrived in Palestine, leading to tensions with the Arab population. Needless to say, the tensions are still simmering even today.
The moment Assad fled from Syria, there were two major concerns that haunted Israel. One being the biggest opportunity to strengthen presence in a land that has got freed up for all and second, to protect the Israeli population that has now turned vulnerable to the Syrian rebels. Over night Netanyahu approved of a plan to launch attacks in Syria, especially the Golan Heights region that acts as a buffer zone between Israel and Syria.
Israel vs Syria over Golan Heights
The Golan Heights has been a focal point of contention between Israel and Syria since the mid-20th century. Israeli occupation in Golan heights dates back to 1967 when Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria during the Six-Day War. During the 1973 Arab-Israeli War, Syria attempted to take back the Golan Heights but failed to do so. In 1974 the UN jumped into picture and deployed peacekeeping forces Golan Heights after Israel and Syria signed an armistice. The Security Council established the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in 1974 as an attempt to maintain a ceasefire and creating a ceasefire buffer zone in the area. As of April, 1,274 UN personnel are deployed in the Golan Heights. Later In 1981, came Israel’s move to take over the Golan Heights inviting worldwide condemnation. Golan Heights region continues to remain under Israeli occupation, with approximately 20,000 Israeli settlers living in the region. However, this move has not been internationally recognized, except by the United States under the Trump administration in 2019. The region is considered to be a disputed territory by the international community, with the United Nations recognizing it as part of Syria. The dispute over the Golan Heights remains a major point of contention between Israel and Syria, with periodic clashes and tensions reported in the region.
Strategic relevance
The Golan Heights region is of immense strategic interest to Israel making the reasons behind Netanyahu’s move to approve of the action by Israeli Defence Forces to occupy the territory even more obvious. Netanyahu himself entered Syrian territory on Tuesday claiming it to be a security tour of the buffer zone seized by Israel. The strategically located region provides Israel with a military vantage point and control over the surrounding region. It is a plateau overlooking northern Israel, providing a significant military advantage. It is a critical source of water for Israel as it contains the headwaters of the Jordan River and feeds into the Sea of Galilee, an essential water reservoir. Control of the Golan Heights helps Israel secure its water supply. Needless to say, it facilitates Israel to detect and prevent potential attacks or infiltration in the backdrop of ongoing conflicts and the presence of groups like Hezbollah and Iranian-backed militias. Besides, the region has fertile land suitable for agriculture and is home to vineyards, orchards, and cattle ranches, and has strong potential for tourism. Lastly, potential oil and natural gas reserves in the region add more strategic value to Golan Heights. Above all, religious and ethnic sentiments cannot be over-looked when it comes to human beings. Golan Heights has ancient Jewish connections, with archaeological sites and evidence of Jewish settlement during biblical times.
Security threat
While Israel’s motive behind entering Golan heights is clear in the region’s strategic importance, another factor being current chaotic situation in Syria. An entire Syria has fallen into the hands of rebel forces primarily comprised of Kurdish forces supported by Turkey. Left over Assad’s Syrian army is fast changing its loyalty to the stronger rebel group. This chaotic condition resulting out of political vacuum has created a possibility of revival of ISIS or Islamic hardliners in Syria. This has alarmed Israel and hence it has taken the preemptive action to destroy Syria’s arms depots & bases completely. It was an easy cakewalk for Israel as there was no opposing or defending force, with dismantling of Syrian army & rebel forces still lingering in rejoicing phase of Assad’s ouster. This eliminated possibility of rebels attacking Israel using modern arms supplied by Russia.
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