Israel rejects French call to withdraw from Syria buffer: ‘Necessary for defense’
‘Limited and temporary’ takeover of demilitarized buffer zone is response to entry of armed militants after Assad’s fall, in violation of 1974 agreement, Foreign Ministry says
The Foreign Ministry on Thursday rejected France’s demand that the Israel Defense Forces leave the buffer zone between Israel and Syria, saying the military’s “limited and temporary” seizure of the territory came after violations of the May 1974 disengagement agreement with Damascus.
Israel had seized the demilitarized zone, in the Syrian-controlled part of the Golan Heights, after rebel forces on Sunday toppled the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. On Wednesday, Paris called on Jerusalem to withdraw, saying the incursion violated the 50-year-old deal that ended Israel’s 1973 war with Syria.
Israel on Thursday pushed back on the demand, saying the incursion was a legitimate response to “the entry of armed militants into the buffer zone in breach of the agreement, and even attacks on [United Nations Disengagement Observer Force] positions in the area.”
“This was necessary for defensive reasons due to threats posed by jihadist groups operating near the border, in order to prevent a scenario similar to October 7 in this area,” said the Foreign Ministry, referring to Hamas’s rampage through southern Israel last year, which killed some 1,200 people and saw some 251 taken hostage, sparking the war in Gaza.
“Israel will continue to act to defend itself and ensure the security of its citizens as needed,” the statement said. It added that Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar had made the same argument to his French counterpart, Jean-Noël Barrot, earlier this week.
France ruled Syria from 1923 to 1946 by mandate of the League of Nations, and has maintained a military presence in the war-torn country.
Besides France, Germany, Spain and Russia have also criticized Israel’s entry into the buffer zone. Berlin coupled its criticism of Israel with a similar call for Turkey, which backs some of the anti-Assad forces and occupies part of northern Syria, to withdraw from Syria.
The United States, meanwhile, has justified the Israeli takeover and said it would ensure the move is temporary.
US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters Monday that Assad’s forces had abandoned the Golan Heights, and said Israel had grounds to fear terror groups would fill the vacuum.
As part of its bid to preempt such a scenario, Israel also struck much of Assad’s military and chemical weapons this week.
Until recently, Israel has rarely acknowledged acting in Syria. However, Israel has reportedly carried out hundreds of airstrikes against Iran’s arms convoys to its Lebanese proxy Hezbollah. Iran and Hezbollah both supported Assad throughout the 13-year Syrian civil war.
Jacob Magid contributed to this report.
