Israel tightens grip on Golan Heights amid Syria changes

By Mustafa Deveci

ISTANBUL (AA) - Israel’s occupation of Syria’s Golan Heights has drawn renewed scrutiny as tensions in the region escalate.

Israel, which has occupied the Golan Heights since 1967, has expanded its presence in the area following recent developments in Syria.

The Golan, a region of strategic importance and abundant water resources, has long been a contentious issue.

On Nov. 27, intense clashes erupted between anti-regime armed groups and forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Between Nov. 30 and Dec. 7, these groups gained control of major cities, including Aleppo, Idlib, Hama, and Homs.

By Dec. 7, armed groups entered Damascus, with large civilian crowds supporting them, signaling the collapse of Assad's regime.

The 61-year Ba’ath Party rule ended as Assad fled the capital. Amid these developments, Israel extended its control over the Golan Heights.

Following directives from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yisrael Katz, Israeli forces entered the buffer zone in the Golan, an area under Israeli occupation for decades.

Netanyahu characterized the occupation as temporary.

Images released by the Israeli military showed soldiers and armored vehicles in the buffer zone, further consolidating Israel’s hold on the region.

- History of the occupation

Israel’s occupation of the Golan Heights began during the 1967 Six-Day War, when it captured the region along with the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Sinai Peninsula.

Syria attempted to retake the Golan Heights in the 1973 Yom Kippur War but failed.

A 1974 Disengagement Agreement led to Israel’s withdrawal from some Syrian territories but left the Golan under Israeli control.

In 1981, Israel annexed the Golan Heights, a move that remains internationally unrecognized except by the United States.

Efforts to resolve the issue have repeatedly failed.

In 2000, US-mediated peace talks collapsed over Israel’s refusal to relinquish control of land near Lake Tiberias, a vital water source.

In 2008, indirect peace talks mediated by Türkiye were disrupted following Israel’s attack on Gaza and the resignation of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak.

In 2016, Netanyahu urged international recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, a proposal widely condemned.

In 2019, then-US President Donald Trump formally recognized Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights, sparking mixed reactions globally.

- Strategic importance

The Golan Heights holds critical value for Israel, both strategically and for its water resources.

Located 60 kilometers from Damascus, the region provides Israel with a significant military advantage.

It also supplies Israel with a substantial portion of its water through the Jordan River and other sources.

While the Golan Heights is internationally recognized as Syrian territory, its location bordering Lebanon and Jordan amplifies its geostrategic importance.

The region also holds cultural significance for many Jews and is viewed by some Israelis as an integral part of their country.

- Syrian Druze and Jewish settlers

The Golan Heights hosts over 30 Jewish settlements, home to around 20,000 settlers. These settlements are considered illegal under international law.

The area is also inhabited by approximately 25,000 Syrian Druze Arabs, concentrated in villages at the base of the Golan.

Since Israel’s occupation, the Druze have sought reunification with relatives across the Syrian border.

The Druze community in the Golan has largely resisted Israeli influence, rejecting Israeli universities and, until 2011, traveling to Syria for education. However, the Syrian Civil War has disrupted these connections.

Druze residents continue to display Syrian flags and cultural symbols, preserving their heritage despite political pressures.

Following Israel’s annexation of the Golan in 1981, the Druze organized a mass strike in 1982, opposing Israeli citizenship.

Though they remain permanent residents and are not Israeli citizens, Druze in the Golan can travel abroad with a special document, similar to Palestinians in East Jerusalem under Israeli occupation.