Netanyahu declares illegal occupation of Syrian territory will last 'forever'
Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that the Golan Heights is an “inseparable” part of Israel. Read the full article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
The Arab world has widely criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for deploying troops into a demilitarized section of the Golan Heights.
On Monday, Netanyahu stated that the Golan Heights, which Israel has occupied, will “forever be an inseparable part” of the state of Israel. This announcement came a day after he ordered troops to advance into a buffer zone that separates the Golan Heights from Syria.
During a press conference on Monday night, Netanyahu emphasized, “today, everyone understands the great importance of our presence there on the Golan, and not on the foothills of the Golan,” referring to Israel's acquisition of the territory from Syria in the 1967 Six-Day War. He reiterated, “The Golan Heights will forever be an inseparable part of the state of Israel.”
Israel unilaterally annexed the Golan Heights in 1981, a move deemed illegal by most of the international community, with the exception of the United States. Until recently, Israeli troops had not operated along the Golan Heights and Syria border due to a 1974 agreement, which established a buffer zone on the Israeli side that was intended strictly for UN peacekeepers.
Following the seizure of Damascus by opposition forces and the subsequent flight of former President Bashar al-Assad to Russia seeking asylum, Israel sent tanks and troops into the demilitarized zone on Sunday. Netanyahu, in a video statement, claimed that the 1974 agreement had effectively “collapsed” as a result of Syrian troops “abandoning their positions.”
On Monday, Israeli forces advanced beyond the buffer zone into Syria, with Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz labeling the operation as a means to establish a new “security area” free from “heavy strategic weapons and terrorist infrastructure.” One of the key locations taken by Israeli forces was the Syrian side of Mount Hermon, which was a significant battleground during the 1973 Yom Kippur War.
The Golan Heights is home to approximately 20,000 Jewish settlers as well as a similar number of Syrian Druze. The 30 or so Jewish settlements in the region are viewed as illegal under international law.
Although Netanyahu characterized Israel's actions in the buffer zone as “temporary,” several neighboring countries have accused Israel of capitalizing on the chaos in Damascus to carry out an unlawful land acquisition.
In a statement issued on Monday, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry labeled the Israeli actions as “a dangerous development and a blatant attack on Syria's sovereignty and unity, as well as a flagrant violation of international law.” Similarly, Egypt accused Israel of exploiting Assad’s downfall “in order to occupy more Syrian land and to impose a new reality on the ground in contravention of international law.”
Aarav Patel contributed to this report for TROIB News
On Monday, Netanyahu stated that the Golan Heights, which Israel has occupied, will “forever be an inseparable part” of the state of Israel. This announcement came a day after he ordered troops to advance into a buffer zone that separates the Golan Heights from Syria.
During a press conference on Monday night, Netanyahu emphasized, “today, everyone understands the great importance of our presence there on the Golan, and not on the foothills of the Golan,” referring to Israel's acquisition of the territory from Syria in the 1967 Six-Day War. He reiterated, “The Golan Heights will forever be an inseparable part of the state of Israel.”
Israel unilaterally annexed the Golan Heights in 1981, a move deemed illegal by most of the international community, with the exception of the United States. Until recently, Israeli troops had not operated along the Golan Heights and Syria border due to a 1974 agreement, which established a buffer zone on the Israeli side that was intended strictly for UN peacekeepers.
Following the seizure of Damascus by opposition forces and the subsequent flight of former President Bashar al-Assad to Russia seeking asylum, Israel sent tanks and troops into the demilitarized zone on Sunday. Netanyahu, in a video statement, claimed that the 1974 agreement had effectively “collapsed” as a result of Syrian troops “abandoning their positions.”
On Monday, Israeli forces advanced beyond the buffer zone into Syria, with Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz labeling the operation as a means to establish a new “security area” free from “heavy strategic weapons and terrorist infrastructure.” One of the key locations taken by Israeli forces was the Syrian side of Mount Hermon, which was a significant battleground during the 1973 Yom Kippur War.
The Golan Heights is home to approximately 20,000 Jewish settlers as well as a similar number of Syrian Druze. The 30 or so Jewish settlements in the region are viewed as illegal under international law.
Although Netanyahu characterized Israel's actions in the buffer zone as “temporary,” several neighboring countries have accused Israel of capitalizing on the chaos in Damascus to carry out an unlawful land acquisition.
In a statement issued on Monday, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry labeled the Israeli actions as “a dangerous development and a blatant attack on Syria's sovereignty and unity, as well as a flagrant violation of international law.” Similarly, Egypt accused Israel of exploiting Assad’s downfall “in order to occupy more Syrian land and to impose a new reality on the ground in contravention of international law.”
Aarav Patel contributed to this report for TROIB News
