Yeni Demokrasi: The Golan Heights are the Main Mission of Zionism
We hereby share an unofficial translation of an article published by Yeni Demokrasi.
Zionist Israel has not definitive and fully recognized borders since 1948, and has shaped its borders through wars, occupation and annexations. With the weakening of the Baath regime in Syria and the intensification of conflicts, strategic borders have come to the fore again for Israel. Zionist Israel has gained the opportunity to act towards its goals in the region. Its large-scale attacks on Syria have also deepened the instability in the country. These attacks by Israel have seriously affected not only Syria’s military infrastructure but also the political balances in the region.
Settlers in the Golan Heights
Israel took action for “border security” reasons. It moved beyond the 50-year demilitarized buffer zone and into Syria’s interior. Although Netanyahu described this step as “defensive and temporary”, the statements show that Israel has developed an occupying strategy in this region. In a speech at the summit of Mount Hermon, Netanyahu stated that he would “stay here until another arrangement is found to ensure Israel’s security.” He also announced plans to increase the settler population in the Golan Heights, making clear its intention to consolidate its presence in this region.
The Golan Heights, an area in southwestern Syria, has an importance far exceeding its surface area. Israel occupied the Syrian Golan Heights in the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, also known as the 6-Day-War. Most of the Syrian Arab population living in the region was forced to flee during the conflict. At the end of the war, a ceasefire line was established and the region came under the control of the Israeli army, the occupying force. Israel began building Jewish settlements in the Golan Heights in a very short time. Syria attempted to retake the Golan Heights during the Yom Kippur War in 1973 and inflicted heavy losses on Zionist Israeli forces; but in the end had to withdraw. The two countries signed a ceasefire agreement in 1974. An observation force affiliated with the United Nations (UN) was also placed on the ceasefire line in the region since 1974. Israel subsequently annexed the region in 1981. This annexation of Israel was not recognized internationally. Today, tens of thousands of settlers live in Jewish settlements built in the Golan Heights, which is internationally considered Syrian territory under Israeli occupation. Around 20,000 Syrians, mostly Druze, also live in the region. The Golan Heights are among the most important points in the region with their geographical and strategic features. From this high area, the southern parts of Syria and the capital Damascus, which is approximately 60 kilometers away, can be clearly observed. Syria, which historically dominated these hills, could easily open artillery fire on the northern regions of Israel from here. However, Israel’s capture of the Golan Heights during the Six-Day-War in 1967 radically changed the balance of power in the region. This strategic gain gave Israel a superior position to observe and control Syria’s military movements. At the same time, the Golan Heights function as a natural buffer zone in case of a possible war with Syria. This is of critical importance for the regional security of Zionist Israel and its neighboring countries. The Golan Heights also plays a vital role in terms of water resources. Rainwater collected in this region feeds the Jordan River, meeting one-third of Israel’s water needs, and this feature of the Golan makes it indispensable in the Middle East, where water shortage is a chronically problem.
Additionally, the Golan Heights has fertile agricultural lands. The volcanic soils of the region offer ideal conditions for vineyards, orchards and cattle breeding. This increases the economic value of the region. The Golan Heights is also home to Mount Hermon Ski Resort, Israel’s only ski resort, and is a tourist attraction in this respect. Jolani, the leader of the jihadist gang HTS, which recently overthrew the Bashar Assad administration in Syria, made it clear in his statement to Istanbul-based Syria TV that the organization has no intention of going to war with Israel and that they want to develop diplomatic relations with England and other imperialist countries. During the Baath-period, Syria argued that the Golan Heights was its territory according to international law and that the region should be returned to it within the framework of a peace agreement. And this demand included Israel giving up control of the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee. The Sea of Galilee is Israel’s main source of drinking water. The current Syrian administration’s policy towards Israel has not yet been shaped. Because he is trying to make himself acceptable in the international arena.
Israeli Pawn Against Palestine
Eager to become the reserve force of imperialism in the region, HTS also targeted the Palestinian resistance organizations operating in the country, as per its duty. In his meeting with representatives of Palestinian resistance groups, Jolani made it clear that they would no longer be allowed to keep weapons, establish training camps or operate military headquarters in the country. It was stated that with this instruction of HTS, Palestinian groups would be limited to political activities and charity work only. Among the groups that attended the meeting were the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), the Democratic People’s Liberation Front of Palestine (DFLP), the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command (PFLP-GC), As-Sa’iqa and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). In particular, these groups have fought on the front lines in the combat against ISIS. The end of the military presence of Palestinian resistance organizations in Syria can be considered as an important development for Israel and other regional actors, and HTS’s decision to disarm Palestinian resistance organizations can also be interpreted as a part of the organization’s search for legitimacy in the international arena and its efforts to improve its relations with imperialist countries. As a striking point, we should point out that Hamas and Fatah are not among these groups. In the message it published after the jihadist groups overthrew Assad, Hamas congratulated the Syrian people for “achieving their desire for freedom and justice.” The decision of HTS has the potential to reshape the balance of power in the region while pushing the future of Palestinian groups in Syria into uncertainty. However, the long-term effects of this step will depend on both the reactions of Palestinian groups and HTS’s relations with other actors in Syria. In the Middle East, a burning point, it does not seem possible to escape the control of imperialism as long as there is no distinction between friend and foe. As the anti-imperialist, anti-Zionist line fades, the balance established by the national liberation struggles with these elements is also changing.
HTS and Israel are forces of the imperialists in the region. There will be periods when these two forces, nourished from the same source, enter in contradiction and conflict with each other. But ultimately, the people of the region, where every particle smells of gunpowder, will be affected. So the issue is not just Syria. This table clearly reveals that the Syrian issue is closely related to regional and global dynamics, rather than being a local problem. The future balances in Syria are not limited to the internal structure of the country but are directly linked to a wide range of international economic and political crises. These crises include Israel’s attacks on Palestine and especially Gaza, the Russia-Ukraine war and Turkey’s so-called national security concerns, and the United States’ strategy to protect Israel and maintain its influence in the Middle East. Therefore, Syria has become an arena of struggle where the interests of many international actors intersect, and new ones will be added. The war in Syria will continue both on the battlefield and at the diplomacy table. For this reason, the future of the country and the people of the region remains uncertain and unfortunately open to being shaped in line with the interests of the rulers.
