JERUSALEM — On Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a significant move by entering Syrian territory, announcing that Israeli forces would maintain their presence in the area indefinitely, effectively obscuring the border with Syria.
Since its founding in 1948, Israel has grappled with the lack of fully recognized borders. The territorial lines with neighboring Arab nations have continuously evolved due to various conflicts, territorial annexations, ceasefires, and peace treaties.
The recent downfall of Syrian President Bashar Assad has created a scenario that may once again alter Israel’s boundaries. Following Assad’s ousting earlier this month, Israel rapidly advanced into the Syrian side of a demilitarized buffer zone that has been in place for 50 years. Netanyahu characterized this action as a defensive measure, intending to safeguard Israel from potential threats posed by various factions vying for control within Syria.
During his visit on Tuesday to the Syrian section of the buffer zone, Netanyahu emphasized Israel’s intent to stay longer than initially suggested. Speaking from the prominent summit of Mount Hermon, which overlooks Syria, he stated that Israel would remain “until another arrangement is found that will ensure Israel’s security.”
A historical overview reveals how Israel’s borders have transformed over the years. In 1947, the United Nations proposed a partition plan for British-controlled Mandatory Palestine, dividing it into Jewish and Arab states, while designating the contentious city of Jerusalem for international administration. However, this plan was never enacted due to Israel’s declaration of independence in May 1948, which ignited a war with neighboring Arab countries. Following the conflict, Israel gained control of approximately 77% of the territory, while Jordan and Egypt took charge of the West Bank and Gaza Strip respectively.
In the Six-Day War of 1967, Israel seized additional territories, including the West Bank and east Jerusalem from Jordan, Gaza and the Sinai Peninsula from Egypt, and the Golan Heights from Syria. Although Israel initially celebrated this swift victory, it initiated decades of ongoing conflict with persistent ramifications.
Israel swiftly annexed east Jerusalem, which houses significant sacred sites for Jews, Muslims, and Christians, along with a large Palestinian population. While the West Bank has never been formally annexed, substantial portions of it have been effectively incorporated through extensive settlement construction, now accommodating over 500,000 Jewish citizens. The international community largely views both east Jerusalem and the West Bank as occupied territories. Israel also erected settlements in the Golan, Sinai, and Gaza regions.
Under its first peace treaty with an Arab nation in 1979, Israel returned the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt, dismantling all settlements there. In 1981, Israel annexed the Golan Heights, a key strategic area, with then-President Donald Trump recognized this annexation in 2019, although the territory is still regarded as occupied by the rest of the world. Following Assad’s decline, Netanyahu has expressed his intention to expand the Israeli settler population in the Golan region.
Israel’s involvement in Lebanon is notable, having initially invaded in 1978, with a second major incursion occurring in 1982 that resulted in an 18-year military occupation of southern Lebanon. Israel eventually withdrew in 2000 due to intense pressure from Hezbollah fighters.
In 1993, the Oslo Accords marked an interim peace agreement granting the Palestinians a degree of autonomy in Gaza and parts of the West Bank, while allowing existing Israeli settlements to remain. Yet, these accords paved the way for a two-state solution, with subsequent attempts at negotiations failing. Palestinian aspirations include reclaiming the entirety of the West Bank and Gaza, with east Jerusalem as their designated capital.
In 2005, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon executed a unilateral withdrawal from Gaza, displacing all troops and settlements from the area. Two years later, Hamas seized control of Gaza, ousting the Palestinian Authority.
The ongoing war in Gaza and heightened tensions in Lebanon have escalated into military operations by Israel in response to Hamas’s recent attacks on October 7. While Israeli leaders have yet to clarify a comprehensive postwar strategy, they seem inclined to maintain a buffer zone along Gaza’s borders and possibly establish a long-term military presence. Some members within Netanyahu’s coalition are advocating for the reestablishment of Jewish settlements in the region.
In light of Assad’s ousting, Israeli military forces have entered the Syrian portion of the long-standing demilitarized buffer zone, which was created following the 1973 Mideast War. This presence has provoked reactions from the international community, with countries such as Egypt, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia, along with the United Nations, expressing concern over Israel’s actions.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has urged nations involved in the Syrian situation to prevent the escalation of further conflicts. The newly formed Syrian government has lodged a complaint with the U.N. Security Council regarding Israel’s encroachment. Meanwhile, Ahmad al-Sharaa, the leader of the prominent insurgent group, has condemned the Israeli operations but stated that Syria is not pursuing military confrontation with Israel.
Carmit Valensi, an expert at Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies, believes that an extended Israeli presence is unlikely to lead to a prolonged occupation. She notes that provoking al-Sharaa would not be advantageous for Israel, and maintaining an occupation could impose significant economic and military burdens on Israel’s forces that are already fatigued from ongoing conflicts. “The tempo of withdrawal will depend on how the situation evolves in Syria,” she remarked, positing that if a more moderate regime emerges, as al-Sharaa is attempting to pave the way for, there may be no compelling reason for Israel to retain control of the territories in the long term.