Israel must have the Golan Heights
As early as June 19, 1967, Israel has offered Golan back to Syria in
exchange for peace, with Syria continuing to refuse, constantly restating the
declaration made by their country and other Arab nations in Khartoum in 1967:
“No peace, no negotiation, no recognition.” Further complicating the constant refusal is the disintegration of the nation into a horrific Civil War
that has yet to be resolved and will in all likelihood lead to the separation
and dissolution of the nation of Syria as a sovereign state. In all likelihood, it will break up into multiple states, much like Yugoslavia in the 1990's.
Prior to the 6-Day War of 1967, the Syrians illegally used the heights to shell and snipe at Israeli civilians. The children in this region came to be known as “Children of Shelters” as they had to continually hide in bomb shelters for protection. In addition, Syria used the Golan Heights to wage economic war on Israel, attempting in 1964 to build a canal through the Golan Heights with the sole intention of depriving Israel of an invaluable water source. It was only after Israel took over the Golan Heights that all the military and economic Syrian attacks stopped. After the 6-Day War, Israel repeatedly offered the Heights back to Syria for 14 years in exchange for the simple promise for peace. Despite this gesture of goodwill, Syrian dictator Assad stated in 1981 that there would never be peace. Syrian Foreign Minister Kaddam emphasized this by stating that they would wait 100 years if necessary.
Syria’s fall into Civil War does not make Northern Israel safe from attack. On the contrary, they are more vulnerable than ever. The region is overrun with Jihadist guerillas representing terror organizations such as ISIS and Hezbollah, both of whom have made clear their intentions to attack Israel. As it stands today, Assad has lost control of much of the area bordering the Golan Heights and due to the danger of the war, many of the UN personnel have departed from the area. As these forces move out, ISIS and other Jihadist groups are moving in and they could very well pose a direct threat to the people in Golan. Moreover, Israel’s presence in Golan has enabled it to provide medical treatment and other humanitarian assistance nearby Syrians who have been injured due to the ongoing Civil War. Israel withdrawing from the Golan Heights will not only make the surrounding area more vulnerable to Jihadist attacks, it would mean the end of Israel’s humanitarian assistance. Rabbi Boteach commented in a recent visit to the region that UN personnel in Golan live in the complete security while their brethren in Syria are continually attacked and kidnapped by Jihadists.
Finally, Israel has economic reasons for keeping Golan as well as security reasons. During the 19 years of Syrian occupation, the Golan Heights was nothing more than a land of bunkers, landmines and barbed wire. For the past 49 years of Israeli control, it has experienced a phenomenal increase in agriculture, tourism, and economic growth. The region provides Israel hundreds of millions of dollars annually in terms of agriculture and tourism. An Israeli withdraw would not only mean the loss of this valuable economy, it would force Israel to resettle over 20,000 people and rearrange their entire defense network. It is estimated that a withdraw would cost the Israeli economy over $20 billion. For security, economic, and humanitarian reasons, Israel must remain in control of the Golan Heights.
Abd, Sara El. “Economics in the Golan Heights: Constraining the Peace Process?” The Chronicles. Fall 2009. Accessed from http://schools.aucegypt.edu/research/ebhrc/publications/Documents/Economic%20Stakes%20in%20the%20 Golan%20Heights.pdf .
Aslan-Leven, Eylon. “The Case for
Israeli Sovereignty in the Golan Heights.”
The Tower. May 2016.
Accessed June 09, 2016
from http://www.thetower.org/article/the-case-for-israeli-sovereignty-in-the-golan-heights/.
Balanche, Fabrice. “The Islamic State Threat in the Golan Heights. The Washington Institute. July 14, 2016. Accessed August 10, 2016 from http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/view/the-islamic-state-threat-in-the-golan-heights.
Glick Caroline. The Israeli Solution. New York: Crown Forum, 2014.
Prior to the 6-Day War of 1967, the Syrians illegally used the heights to shell and snipe at Israeli civilians. The children in this region came to be known as “Children of Shelters” as they had to continually hide in bomb shelters for protection. In addition, Syria used the Golan Heights to wage economic war on Israel, attempting in 1964 to build a canal through the Golan Heights with the sole intention of depriving Israel of an invaluable water source. It was only after Israel took over the Golan Heights that all the military and economic Syrian attacks stopped. After the 6-Day War, Israel repeatedly offered the Heights back to Syria for 14 years in exchange for the simple promise for peace. Despite this gesture of goodwill, Syrian dictator Assad stated in 1981 that there would never be peace. Syrian Foreign Minister Kaddam emphasized this by stating that they would wait 100 years if necessary.
Syria’s fall into Civil War does not make Northern Israel safe from attack. On the contrary, they are more vulnerable than ever. The region is overrun with Jihadist guerillas representing terror organizations such as ISIS and Hezbollah, both of whom have made clear their intentions to attack Israel. As it stands today, Assad has lost control of much of the area bordering the Golan Heights and due to the danger of the war, many of the UN personnel have departed from the area. As these forces move out, ISIS and other Jihadist groups are moving in and they could very well pose a direct threat to the people in Golan. Moreover, Israel’s presence in Golan has enabled it to provide medical treatment and other humanitarian assistance nearby Syrians who have been injured due to the ongoing Civil War. Israel withdrawing from the Golan Heights will not only make the surrounding area more vulnerable to Jihadist attacks, it would mean the end of Israel’s humanitarian assistance. Rabbi Boteach commented in a recent visit to the region that UN personnel in Golan live in the complete security while their brethren in Syria are continually attacked and kidnapped by Jihadists.
Finally, Israel has economic reasons for keeping Golan as well as security reasons. During the 19 years of Syrian occupation, the Golan Heights was nothing more than a land of bunkers, landmines and barbed wire. For the past 49 years of Israeli control, it has experienced a phenomenal increase in agriculture, tourism, and economic growth. The region provides Israel hundreds of millions of dollars annually in terms of agriculture and tourism. An Israeli withdraw would not only mean the loss of this valuable economy, it would force Israel to resettle over 20,000 people and rearrange their entire defense network. It is estimated that a withdraw would cost the Israeli economy over $20 billion. For security, economic, and humanitarian reasons, Israel must remain in control of the Golan Heights.
Sources
Boteach, Rabbi Shumley. “The UN’s
Demand that Israel Give Over the Golan Heights to ISIS.” Observer News and Politics. April 28, 2016. Accessed June 09, 2016 from http://observer.com/2016/04/the-uns-demand-that-israel-give-the-golan-heights-to-isis.
Dershowitz, Alan. The Case for Israel. Hoboken, NJ: John Riley & Sons Inc., 2003.
Gelber Max. “Netanyahu: Israel Will Never Withdraw from the Golan Heights.” United with Israel. April 17, 2016. Accessed June 09, 2016 from https://unitedwithisrael.org/netanyahu-israel-will-never-withdraw-from-the-golan-heights/.
The Golan Heights Important Facts. The Golan Residents Committee, 1997.
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