Analysis
TSF journalist and SIC commentator Ricardo Alexandre analyzes the Israeli government’s recent decision to double the population in the Golan Heights, the attacks on Syria and the US-Israel relationship with the new Trump Administration.
Israel continues to expand its influence in the Golan Heights with the plan to double the population in the Golan Heights while strengthening its military operations in Syria. The support of the new North American administration promises to further legitimize the Netanyahu government’s strategies, in a region marked by the presence of international powers and geopolitical disputes, explains Ricardo Alexandre.
The terrorist threat is “the pretext for Benjamin Netanyahu to carry out this initiative” to advance in the Golan Heights, “a recurring justification for Israel’s policies” e “qwhich leaves a lot to be desired in the light of international law”.
“This demilitarized zone between Israel and Syria, this area of the Golan Heights, does not have international recognition of this occupation, this annexation. This step of doubling the Israeli population in that area is, obviously, against International Law.”
“My friend Trump”: the US-Israel relationship
With the new US administration starting in January, Netanyahu hopes to reinforce support and legitimize his actions. The Israeli Prime Minister’s reference to Donald Trump, described as “my friend”, demonstrates “a prime minister whose back feels hot”, “he feels that he will be more protected from January 20th, he feels that he can continue to enjoy a certain amount of impunity”.
“We will have Israel accentuating its political and military actions on various fronts. I remember that Israel says it has 7 fronts of war after being a victim of the Hamas terrorist attacks on October 7 last year. Syria is one of those fronts and no, it is not clear how Israel will later compensate the Syrian people or State for the destruction it has caused in its territory. We know that there are partners in this new Syrian order willing to help Syria recover and rise again, this is the case of Turkey,“.
Syria remains a disputed territory, with the presence of “two Russian bases that Moscow is negotiating with the new Syrian authorities, in the southeast of the country, we have thethere are still around 900 US military personnel also on a base” in addition to the constant Israeli attacks.
“It is a very sensitive, very delicate territory, from a geopolitical point of view, and the future is still uncertain.”
