Israel and the Golan Heights Against the World

 

President Trump’s declaration of recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights has been received warmly, politely and with a feeling it will prove a temporary United States position. We cannot argue against their logic claiming that another President will come along and rip the decision up and claim that the United States backs fully the United Nations in demanding that Israel do as she is told. Just in case the world has not figured this out yet, Israel will seldom do as instructed by the European Union, United Nations, Arab League or even the United States. Israel will act in order to assure her survival in an area where mistakes are costly because there is always someone waiting to take advantage of such situations. Weakness is an invitation to the surrounding nations that you can be defeated and forced to play by Arab rules. The problem with that is should Israel ever need to play be the Arab rules, she knows that rule number one is that the Jew is a sub-human creature which must realize is only permitted to exist by the permission of its Islamic superiors. Rule two is Islam is perfect and Judaism is a disease to be correct by the fires of Islam. The rules would only get worse from there ending in the final rule, convert to Islam or die. That is the neighborhood in which Israel resides.

 

Many people in the West, especially in the United States, tend to ask Israel why they refuse to grant the Palestinian Arabs a small state as Israel is so large and powerful. The unfortunate thing is too many people equate power with size. They see Israel as commensurate in power with the major powers such as Russia, China, United States, Germany and Great Britain. They then equate Israel in size often with the United States. In order to give people from around the world to compare the size of Israel, we have maps comparing the size of Israel with Great Britain, United States, Australia and India. These maps should immediately dispel any misconception about Israel being a large nation. It is approximately the size of New Jersey. Israel is quite tiny even compared to most of her neighbors, specifically Jordan, Syria, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Turkey and Iran. It is only the Israeli military might which has permitted her to resist being overrun. But size is not the only reason that Israel need to retain the Golan Heights.

 

Exactly How Small is Israel
A Comparison Against Four
Well Known Countries

 

The Golan Heights are part of the topographic defensive barrier for Israel from attacks coming from out of the east along with the Jordan River Valley (see topographic map below). The Jordan River Valley serves as a defensive barrier from attacks from the Jordan border into Israel and is equally efficient at protecting Jordan from Israel, so it serves the safety of both nations. The Golan Heights is the opposite; it allows whichever side, Israel or Syria, of an overlooking high ground allowing viewing deeply into the other nation’s lands. When Syria held the Golan Heights they would regularly launch artillery shells onto Israeli towns, cities, Kibbutzim and farms. Syrian snipers would practice by killing Israeli farmers testing their skill. Some of the more fertile areas of Israel had to be left untilled simply because it was far too dangerous for anyone to be out in the open as targets for Syrian soldiers. After the June 1967 Six Day War, Israel liberated the Golan Heights from Syria and since then Israel has held the high ground. What may be surprising to some, Israel has not used the heights for launching artillery shells into Syrian cities, has not used the area for snipers to practice their art shooting hapless Syrians or used it for anything beyond defensive measures when the Syrian civil war wanders into Israel, often intentionally. It should be obvious now why Israel insists she must retain the Jordan Valley and especially the Golan Heights, they mean security which means peace. The moment Israel shows weakness or vulnerability, there will be another Arab attempt to destroy the Jewish State.

 

Topographic Map of Golan Heights and Jordan River Valley

 

Another advantage of Israel retaining the Golan Heights is that under Israel there are wineries, farms, orchards and other agricultural activities. Unlike the purely military control and restricted use under Syria, Israel retains a military presence, as she does on all her borders, but allows for civilian use which has brought new life and greenery to the Heights and wildlife has returned making the Golan region one of the favorite places for a day visit by Israelis and tourists. For the not too faint of heart, one can approach the eastern ledge of the heights and view Damascus. Of course Israel used the heights for surveillance of the Syrian movements of all sides of the continuing war. Israel has also used the Golan Heights as a contact point for those from the Syrian war requiring medical attention. Thousands of people have been admitted for treatment in Israel. Separate locations are arranged for the separate groups where they bring the badly wounded and from where they could retrieve their people after they are treated. Often those injured require hospitalization. All of this care is provided free with the costs being covered by the government but has on occasions caused difficulties such as overcrowding in those hospitals accepting these patients. Do not fret, we will handle these inconveniences as we do those of the little things we all face daily.

 

The reasons for Israel retaining the Golan Heights are simple. They are security, excellent wines, fruit orchards, grazing for herds, and with the heights in Israeli hands, there will not be any further conflict between Israel and Syria. Further, Israel holding the Golan Heights prevents the encroachment by Iran who is already establishing a presence in southwestern Syria with the IRGC and other forces including the presence of Iranian missiles and the missile launchers. Israel needs the Golan Heights in order to have early warning of any launch from these Iranian missiles. This is without even considering the possibility that Bashir ‘the butcher’ al-Assad deciding that he could bolster his position in the Arab world by launching attacks on Israel and using the ensuing violence as proof that the Israelis are aiding the anti-Assad forces and it is an Arab obligation to assist al-Assad against the anti-Assad forces and Israel. But even al-Assad is not reckless as to attack Israel while she holds the Golan Heights. This is the importance of the Golan Heights. Holding the Golan Heights by Israel makes the chances of a new war all but nil. Israel retaining the Golan Heights means peace.

 

Beyond the Cusp