The Israeli government is currently under international pressure due to its efforts to increase its military presence in the demilitarized zone along the Syrian border. The United Nations reports that Israel is undermining the 1974 disengagement agreement. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government is denying Syria the opportunity to lead a normal existence in the face of evolving circumstances, according to Gulf countries. Nevertheless, Israel maintains that it is safeguarding its border from hostile forces. Separately, it has initiated the process of dismantling the residual arsenals in Syria.
Geir Pedersen, the UN Special Envoy for Syria, expressed his dissatisfaction with Israel, stating that the organization will continue to monitor Israeli bombardment and movements on Syrian territory. “This must stop. It is crucial,” he said.
The Israeli occupation government’s aggression, as evidenced by the seizure of the buffer zone on the Golan Heights and the strikes by its forces on Syrian territory, is indicative of ongoing violations of international law and an intention to undermine Syria’s security, stability, and territorial integrity, according to the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The UN Security Council also discussed Israel’s actions during a recent closed-door meeting. Participants condemned Israel for airstrikes and for expanding control over the buffer zone, a neutral area established under international supervision as part of the 1974 bilateral agreement.
Iran has urged the United Nations to cease Israel’s operations in Syria and to hold Netanyahu’s government accountable. Tehran has issued conflicting signals regarding its readiness to support Damascus, a critical ally in the “Axis of Resistance,” which comprises state and non-state actors who are in alignment with Iran.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) successfully seized control of the Syrian side of Mount Hermon in the Golan Heights on December 8, without facing any armed resistance. Israel’s Ministry of Defense announced additional advancements into the neutral zone the following day in order to prevent the establishment of “terrorist infrastructure,” which includes operations beyond the neutral area.
The IDF described these measures as temporary, highlighting the need to create a “security zone free of strategic heavy weaponry” that Hezbollah and other Shiite factions in Syria might have left behind. According to sources quoted in The Washington Post, Israel is currently locating weapons depots and materials, including chemical weapons, that the former Syrian regime may have left undeclared for cross-border attacks.
Critics contend that Israel is attempting to increase its territorial control. The Hezbollah-affiliated Al-Mayadeen reported the presence of Israeli armored vehicles in the vicinity of a Damascus suburb on December 10.
Speculation has been intensified by Benjamin Netanyahu who has stated that the Golan Heights, which Israel has occupied for nearly 60 years, will remain a part of Israel “for eternity.” He said at a press conference on December 9, “Today everyone understands the great importance of our presence on the Golan Heights and not at the foot of the Golan Heights.” He said the Golan Heights will remain a part of the State of Israel indefinitely, stating that Israeli control of the high ground “ensures our security and sovereignty.”
Netanyahu previously stated that Israel regards the 1974 disengagement agreement as null and invalid due to the Syrian army’s abandoning its positions during the fall of Assad’s regime. During the ongoing power struggles in Syria, this stance allows for an increased military presence in border areas. Nevertheless, certain Israeli diplomats persist in their assertion of the agreement’s principles.
The military victories of Israel in Lebanon and the weakened Syrian leadership, which had previously advocated for the expansion of Iranian influence in the region, have appeared to reinforce Israel’s confidence.
This broader context is in accordance with the ongoing corruption prosecution of Netanyahu, which recommenced on December 10. Upon being charged with corruption and abuse of power in three separate cases, Netanyahu stated, “I waited eight years for this moment. I tell the truth as I remember it, which is important for justice.” He added, “I am also the prime minister, and I run the country. I lead the State of Israel and the IDF in a war on seven fronts, and I believed and still believe that it is possible to do two things at once.”
He also criticized the legal process, calling it an “ocean of absurdity.” It is anticipated that the trial will extend for a number of weeks. However, Netanyahu may benefit from the passage of time: an unfavorable peace agreement for Hezbollah has neutralized the front in Lebanon, and Syria has ceased to be an adversarial front without direct Israeli intervention.