Israel appears to be gearing up for an open-ended occupation of Syrian territory it invaded after the fall of former president Bashar Al Assad, with senior officials hinting that long-term military control of the area is vital for national security.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday his country would remain inside the UN-patrolled buffer zone, which was established in 1974, “until another arrangement can be found that guarantees Israel’s security”. The zone separates the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights from Syrian-controlled territory.
Despite early insistence that the move would be temporary, more recent comments from Israeli leaders about the strategic importance of the area and the duration of the military operation there have led to fears that Israel could be preparing to seize the area.
Mr Netanyahu made his announcement from on top of Mount Hermon – Jebel Al Sheikh in Arabic – strategic high ground that has become a symbol of decades of Israeli tensions with Syria. He said the area’s “importance to Israel’s security has only been reinforced in recent years, and especially in recent weeks, with the dramatic events taking place below us here in Syria”. His trip made him the first sitting Israeli premier to enter Syrian territory.
Defence Minister Israel Katz, who joined Mr Netanyahu, said Mount Hermon was “the eyes of the state of Israel to detect near and far threats”.
“We will remain here for as long as it is needed,” added Mr Katz.
Earlier in the day, Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel described Hayat Tahrir Al Sham leader Ahmad Al Shara, whose forces led the overthrow of Mr Al Assad on December 8, as “a wolf in [sheep’s] clothing”, in the some of the most direct comments yet from the Israeli government about Syria’s new leadership.
HTS was formerly affiliated with Al Qaeda and is designated as a terrorist organisation by the UN and many governments. Despite a number of statements from its leadership suggesting the group does not want to fight Israeli forces, concerns are nonetheless high in Israel that post-Assad chaos in Syria could lead to the emergence of a destabilising, extreme Sunni government on its borders.
Last week, as Israeli troops entered the buffer zone amid condemnation from the international community, particularly Arab states, Mr Netanyahu said the occupied Golan Heights would be Israeli “for eternity”. However, he did not clarify whether he was referring solely to areas occupied by Israel since the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, or to the buffer zone as well.
Israel’s military strongly denied intentions to occupy the zone in the long-term, but some officials, including government ministers, made the case early on for a land grab.
Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli, a member of Mr Netanyahu’s Likud party, said Israel should “establish a new defensive frontier based on the 1974 disengagement line” and “renew its control of the peak of [Mount] Hermon”.
The UN on Tuesday condemned Israel’s capture of the buffer zone, saying it violated the 1974 agreement which needs to be “respected”.
“Occupation is occupation – whether it lasts a week, a month or a year – it remains occupation,” said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric.
Israel’s moves into Syria have been accompanied by heavy bombing of Syrian military infrastructure and assets, which the Israeli military says have now been mostly destroyed.
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
SOUTH%20KOREA%20SQUAD
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Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
THE BIO
Ms Davison came to Dubai from Kerala after her marriage in 1996 when she was 21-years-old
Since 2001, Ms Davison has worked at many affordable schools such as Our Own English High School in Sharjah, and The Apple International School and Amled School in Dubai
Favourite Book: The Alchemist
Favourite quote: Failing to prepare is preparing to fail
Favourite place to Travel to: Vienna
Favourite cuisine: Italian food
Favourite Movie : Scent of a Woman
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RESULTS
5pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
Winner: Samau Xmnsor, Abdul Aziz Al Balushi (jockey), Ibrahim Al Hadhrami (trainer)
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Ottoman, Szczepan Mazur, Abdallah Al Hammadi
6pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner: Sharkh, Patrick Cosgrave, Helal Al Alawi
6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 85,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner: Yaraa, Fernando Jara, Majed Al Jahouri
7pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Maaly Al Reef, Bernardo Pinheiro, Abdallah Al Hammadi
7.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,000m
Winner: Jinjal, Fabrice Veron, Ahmed Al Shemaili
8pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,000m
Winner: Al Sail, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
Results
Stage 7:
1. Caleb Ewan (AUS) Lotto Soudal - 3:18:29
2. Sam Bennett (IRL) Deceuninck-QuickStep - same time
3. Phil Bauhaus (GER) Bahrain Victorious
4. Michael Morkov (DEN) Deceuninck-QuickStep
5. Cees Bol (NED) Team DSM
General Classification:
1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates - 24:00:28
2. Adam Yates (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers - 0:00:35
3. Joao Almeida (POR) Deceuninck-QuickStep - 0:01:02
4. Chris Harper (AUS) Jumbo-Visma - 0:01:42
5. Neilson Powless (USA) EF Education-Nippo - 0:01:45
How to register as a donor
1) Organ donors can register on the Hayat app, run by the Ministry of Health and Prevention
2) There are about 11,000 patients in the country in need of organ transplants
3) People must be over 21. Emiratis and residents can register.
4) The campaign uses the hashtag #donate_hope
Profile
Company name: Jaib
Started: January 2018
Co-founders: Fouad Jeryes and Sinan Taifour
Based: Jordan
Sector: FinTech
Total transactions: over $800,000 since January, 2018
Investors in Jaib's mother company Alpha Apps: Aramex and 500 Startups
Kalra's feat
- Becomes fifth batsman to score century in U19 final
- Becomes second Indian to score century in U19 final after Unmukt Chand in 2012
- Scored 122 in youth Test on tour of England
- Bought by Delhi Daredevils for base price of two million Indian rupees (Dh115,000) in 2018 IPL auction
England squad
Joe Root (captain), Alastair Cook, Keaton Jennings, Gary Ballance, Jonny Bairstow (wicketkeeper), Ben Stokes (vice-captain), Moeen Ali, Liam Dawson, Toby Roland-Jones, Stuart Broad, Mark Wood, James Anderson.
