Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared a “historic day for the Middle East” during a visit to Mt. Bental on the Golan Heights, near the Syrian border, following the collapse of the Assad regime. He was joined by Defense Minister Israel Katz and Golan Heights Regional Council Chairman Uri Kellner.
During the visit, Netanyahu received a briefing from Maj.-Gen. Ori Gordin, Head of IDF Northern Command, and Brig.-Gen. Yair Peli, Commander of the 210th Division. The discussion centered on developments in Syria, the IDF’s increased presence along the border, and preparations for future security operations.
Netanyahu attributed the fall of Assad’s regime to Israel’s actions against Hezbollah and Iran, stating:
“The collapse of the Assad regime, the tyranny in Damascus, offers great opportunity but also is fraught with significant dangers. This collapse is the direct result of our forceful action against Hezbollah and Iran, Assad’s main supporters. It set off a chain reaction of all those who want to free themselves from this tyranny and its oppression.”
He also highlighted the potential threats posed by the collapse of the 1974 Separation of Forces Agreement between Israel and Syria:
“Last night, it collapsed. The Syrian army abandoned its positions. We gave the Israeli army the order to take over these positions to ensure that no hostile force embeds itself right next to the border of Israel. This is a temporary defensive position until a suitable arrangement is found.”
Netanyahu extended a gesture of peace to various communities in Syria, including the Druze, Kurds, Christians, and Muslims, while emphasizing Israel’s readiness to defend itself:
“If we can establish neighborly relations and peaceful relations with the new forces emerging in Syria, that’s our desire. But if we do not, we will do whatever it takes to defend the State of Israel and the border of Israel.”
The IDF has taken control of key positions previously held by the Syrian military to prevent hostile forces from gaining a foothold near the border. Netanyahu described the move as temporary but necessary for Israel’s security.
The Prime Minister was accompanied by senior officials, including his Military Secretary, Maj.-Gen. Roman Gofman; Foreign Policy Adviser, Dr. Ophir Falk; and Spokesperson, Dr. Omer Dostri.
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5 Responses
According to Halacha, all of Lebanon and most of Syria is Eretz Yisrael.
Since 1948 CE, the government of Syria persecuted its Jews relentlessly, including: imprisonments, executions, not allowing Jews to leave Syria, constant police surveillance (even of old Jewish women), and torture (even of Jewish children as young as 6 years old).
During the decades following World War II, Syria was a refuge for convicted Nazi war criminals. Some of them were promoted to high positions in the government of Syria, under the Assad regime.
For many years, Syria was the international headquarters of the anti-Israel boycott.
Aram Soba, which the Greeks named Syria (pronounced Suryah – the y is U in Greek), after Assyria (a nearby earlier empire),
is “Kibush Yachid”, which David conquered and Shlomo controlled, but it is NOT Eres Yisrael min haTorah, since we hold kibush yachid LO shmei kibush.
MidRabanan, it has a certain status, more than any other land.
israel does not need or want syrian land – it’s full of arabs.
I’m sure the new ISIS leaders and armies of terrorists will be better than Assad…not.
Why is Netanyahu celebrating and taking credit for the fall of Assad? What is he smoking?
And of course, typical Netanyahu saying that the taking of defensive positions is temporary instead of shutting up about it…