International-News

Netanyahu: ‘The Golan belongs to Israel for eternity’

Israeli incursion into Syria raises international concerns. Violation of 1974 disengagement agreement

Israeli troops advance into Syria, into the buffer zone adjacent to the part of the Golan Heights occupied and annexed by Israel, after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad by rebels. This move constitutes a ‘violation’ of the 1974 disengagement agreement between Israel and Syria, according to UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric.

Temporary security measure

The Israeli Foreign Minister, Gideon Saar, said that the advance of Israeli troops was a ‘limited and temporary measure’ taken for security reasons. Saar stressed that the action is necessary to protect Israeli citizens and does not represent an intervention in the Syrian internal conflict. The Israeli ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, also reassured the UN Security Council in a letter, explaining that the actions in Syria are limited and temporary.

Israel and the Golan

The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, took a different view: he declared that the occupied and annexed part of the Syrian Golan belongs to Israel ‘for eternity’. Netanyahu reiterated that the Golan Heights will be part of the State of Israel forever, emphasising the strategic importance of this region. This suggests that the Jewish state also intends to secure the buffer zone and that this is not a temporary action.

US position

US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said that Israel’s incursion into Syria beyond the Golan Heights should only be ‘temporary’. Miller expressed sympathy for Israel’s actions, explaining that the Syrian army has abandoned its positions in the buffer zone, creating a possible security vacuum that could be exploited by terrorist organisations.

Hezbollah’s reaction

Hezbollah condemned the increase in Israeli attacks in Syria and expressed support for the Syrian people. In a statement, Hezbollah criticised Israel for ‘occupying more land on the Golan Heights’ and for ‘striking and destroying the defensive capabilities of the Syrian state’. The organisation stressed the importance of preserving Syria’s unity.

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