Israel - Golan heights & Mount Herman expansion plan

Introduction

Based on recent events, Israel has indeed violated the May 1974 Agreement on Disengagement between Israel and Syria. The violations occurred under the following circumstance

Violations of the Agreement

Buffer Zone Incursion

Israel has entered and occupied the demilitarized buffer zone established by the 1974 agreement.

Military Activities

Israeli forces have been conducting military operations within the area of separation, which is prohibited by the agreement.

Airstrikes

Israel has carried out approximately 500 airstrikes targeting over 130 vital sites in Syria, including airports, military bases, and weapons depots.

Ground Incursion

Israeli occupation forces conducted a ground incursion into Syrian territory, taking control of the demilitarized zone, including Mount Hermon and several towns and villages.

Israeli Justifications

Israel has provided several justifications for its actions:

Preventive Measures

Israel claims it is acting to prevent extremist groups from seizing weapons and establishing a presence near its borders.

Self-Defense

Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, assert that these actions are taken in self-defense.

Power Vacuum

Israel cites the fall of the Assad regime and the resulting power vacuum as a reason for its military intervention.

Targeting Strategic Weapons

Israel claims to be targeting strategic weapon systems, including suspected chemical weapons facilities and long-range missiles.

Agreement Void

Following the fall of the Assad regime, Israel has declared the 1974 agreement “void until order is restored in Syria”.

Facts

Based on the recent developments, there is now both Israeli military and civilian presence in the buffer zone between Syria and Israel, which marks a significant change from the previous situation:

Military Presence

Israeli ground forces have crossed into the demilitarized buffer zone established by the 1974 Agreement on Disengagement.

The Israeli military has taken control of key positions, including Mount Hermon and several other strategic locations.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered troops to “take control of the buffer zone” between Israel and Syria.

Civilian Presence

The Israeli government has approved a plan to enhance and expand Israeli settlements in the occupied Golan Heights, which includes areas adjacent to the buffer zone.

A curfew has been imposed on five Syrian villages within the buffer zone, indicating some level of civilian presence and Israeli control over these areas.

Justifications and International Response

Israel claims this is a temporary defensive measure due to the power vacuum created by the fall of Assad’s regime in Syria.

The international community, including the United Nations, has condemned these actions as violations of the 1974 disengagement agreement.

Jordan and other countries have criticized Israel’s plan to expand settlements in the occupied Golan Heights.

Long-term Implications

While Israel insists the military presence is temporary, there are concerns that it may lead to more permanent changes in the region.

The Israeli government has previously announced plans to double the settler population in the Golan Heights.

This situation represents a significant shift in the status quo of the buffer zone, with potential long-term implications for the region’s stability and Israeli-Syrian relations.

Israel legal commitment on Golan heights and buffer zone

Israel’s legal commitments regarding the Golan Heights and the buffer zone were primarily defined by the Agreement on Disengagement signed with Syria on May 31, 1974. The key aspects of Israel’s legal obligations included:

Territorial Commitments

Withdrawal from occupied areas

Israel agreed to withdraw from all areas of Mount Hermon it had occupied during the 1973 Arab-Israeli War.

This included an area of about 25 square kilometers that encompassed Quneitra and other locations.

Establishment of a buffer zone

A demilitarized buffer zone of approximately 235 square kilometers was created between Israeli and Syrian forces.

Military Restrictions

Separation lines

The agreement defined two separation lines: an Israeli line (blue) and a Syrian line (red).

Israel committed to maintaining its forces behind the blue line.

Demilitarization

Israel agreed not to conduct military activities or maintain a military presence within the buffer zone.

Monitoring and Enforcement

UN peacekeeping force

Israel agreed to allow the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) to monitor the ceasefire and patrol the buffer zone.

Approximately 1,100 UN troops were given the responsibility of patrolling the area.

Long-term Commitment

The agreement was intended to be a long-term arrangement to maintain peace and stability along the Israel-Syria border. Israel was legally bound to uphold these commitments indefinitely.

Despite these legal obligations, recent events have led to significant violations of the agreement by Israel:

Israel has entered and occupied the demilitarized buffer zone.

Israeli forces have been conducting military operations within the area of separation.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared the 1974 agreement “collapsed” following the fall of the Assad regime in Syria.

These actions have been widely condemned by the international community, including the United Nations, as violations of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement and international law.

Golan heights and Mount Herman

Mount Hermon is partially located in the Golan Heights, but it’s not entirely within this region. Here’s a breakdown of Mount Hermon’s location:

Geographic Location

Mount Hermon is situated at the southern end of the Anti-Lebanon mountain range.

Its summit straddles the border between Syria and Lebanon.

The southern slopes of Mount Hermon extend into the Israeli-occupied portion of the Golan Heights.

Golan Heights Connection

The Mount Hermon ski resort, located on the southern slopes, is within the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

The ski resort’s top elevation is 2,040 meters (6,690 ft) above sea level.

Strategic Importance

Mount Hermon is considered a separate part of the Golan Heights geographically.

It’s the highest point in the region, reaching 2,814 meters (9,232 ft) above sea level.

The mountain provides a strategic vantage point for Israel, allowing observation deep into Syrian territory on clear days.

Recent Developments

Following the fall of the Assad regime in Syria, Israel has taken control of Syrian army positions on parts of Mount Hermon.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared the 1974 agreement maintaining the buffer zone in the Golan Heights null and void.

Mount Hermon is not entirely within the Golan Heights, its southern slopes and strategic importance are closely tied to this disputed region.

Israel settlement details

Based on the search results, the current Israeli population in the Golan Heights, which includes Mount Hermon, is approximately:

31,000 Israeli settlers

This population is part of a total of about 58,000 people living in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights, which also includes:

24,000 Druze

2,800 Alawites in Ghajar

It’s important to note that the Israeli government has recently approved a plan to double the settler population in the Golan Heights.

Isreal present and future plans

The plan involves allocating over 40 million shekels (approximately $11 million) to encourage demographic growth in the area. With this approved plan and 31,000 Israeli settler it does not seem to be temporary settlement. It’s permanent.

The Israeli settlement in the Golan Heights, including Mount Hermon, is considered illegal under international law by most countries, as the area was captured from Syria during the 1967 Six-Day War.

International Response

The United Nations and other international bodies have condemned Israel’s actions:

UN Condemnation

The UN special envoy for Syria has stated that Israel’s activities in the Golan Heights buffer zone violate the 1974 agreement.

Calls for Withdrawal

There have been calls for Israel to fully withdraw from occupied Syrian lands, including the Golan Heights.

Violation of International Law

Israel’s actions have been described as violations of multiple international laws, including the principle of prohibition of land seizure by force and infringement of state sovereignty.

Conclusion

Israel justifies its actions on the grounds of self-defense and preventing extremist threats, these actions clearly violate the 1974 agreement and have been widely condemned by the international community.