Israel has escalated its occupation of the Syrian Golan Heights post-Assad’s collapse, seizing demilitarized areas and increasing airstrikes on Syrian military sites. Prime Minister Netanyahu’s statements indicate a belief that such conflicts enable new Arab peace agreements. Calls from the GCC for action against Israel’s violations are met with Arab passivity, while Turkey condemns Israeli policies, leaving Israel free to advance its territorial ambitions.
Following the December fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government, Israel intensified its occupation of the Syrian Golan Heights by seizing the demilitarized buffer zone, violating the 1974 disengagement agreement. Concurrently, Israel ramped up airstrikes against Syrian military positions, capitalizing on Syria’s instability. This expansionist behavior has resulted in Israeli forces advancing to within 20 kilometers of Damascus.
Emboldened by its military capabilities and prior successes in Gaza using American-supplied weaponry, Israel appears to view ongoing chaos in Syria as an opportunity for territorial gains. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has indicated that conflicts in Gaza have opened paths for new peace agreements with Arab states, significantly altering regional dynamics.
Meanwhile, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), led by Secretary General Jasem Albudaiwi, is calling for decisive international action against Israel’s actions in Syria. However, there is a stark irony in seeking global intervention while Arab nations remain passive, particularly concerning U.S. arms shipments to Israel amidst its attacks.
The Arab states, numbering 22, have potential leverage against Israel, including an oil embargo against the West. Yet, without cohesive action, Israel has begun efforts to alter demographic balances within the occupied West Bank, facilitated by support from the U.S. Congress that seeks to redefine the territory’s nomenclature.
Turkey, a key ally of the current Syrian regime, has also condemned Israel’s actions. Despite this, Israeli interests in Syria remain unchallenged, and Netanyahu’s policies are backed by U.S. recognition of Golan Heights as part of Israel, further entrenching Israel’s expansionist agenda.
Israel’s actions in Syria represent a calculated exploitation of regional upheavals, characterized by increased territorial ambitions and military aggression. Despite international calls for action, particularly from Arab states, a lack of cohesive response allows Israel to pursue its agenda with relative impunity. The supportive stance of the U.S. underscores the complexities of geopolitical alignments, complicating the prospects for a resolution in Syria.
Original Source: www.tehrantimes.com
