Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Sunday that the 1974 UN-monitored Disengagement Agreement with Syria is no longer valid. The agreement, established after the 1973 Yom Kippur War, created a demilitarized buffer zone between Israel and Syria to reduce tensions.
Speaking from Mount Bental in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, overlooking the Syrian border, Netanyahu stated that the collapse of President Bashar al-Assad’s government has led to significant regional instability. He emphasized that this situation presents both new opportunities and serious risks for Israel.
“We will not allow any hostile force to establish itself on our border,” Netanyahu declared. He has ordered Israeli forces to enter the buffer zone to prevent hostile entities from gaining a foothold. This move is seen as a response to groups like Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which have been active in the Syrian conflict.
Defense Minister Israel Katz, who accompanied Netanyahu, confirmed that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have been instructed to take control of key points in the buffer zone. “Our goal is to ensure the protection of all Israeli communities in the Golan Heights, both Jewish and Druze, so they are not exposed to threats from the other side,” Katz said.
Since clashes with Hezbollah in Lebanon last October, Israel has intensified airstrikes in Syria, targeting militias affiliated with Iran and Hezbollah. The Israeli leadership asserts that these actions are necessary for national security.
Netanyahu expressed hope for peaceful relations in the future. “We wish for a policy of good neighborliness with Syria,” he said, highlighting the desire for stability in the region.
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Israeli PM: 1974 UN-monitored Disengagement Agreement defunct
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