JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu crossed into Syrian territory on Tuesday, announcing that Israeli troops would remain in the area indefinitely, blurring the border with its northern neighbor. Since its founding in 1948, Israel has never had officially recognized borders. Borderlines with its Arab neighbors have shifted over the years due to conflicts, annexations, ceasefires, and peace deals. The downfall of Syrian President Bashar Assad has created a situation that may reshape Israel’s borders once again. Following Assad’s removal earlier this month, Israel swiftly entered the Syrian side of a demilitarized buffer zone established 50 years ago. Netanyahu explained the move as defensive and temporary, aimed at ensuring that groups vying for power in Syria do not pose a threat to Israel. However, during his visit to the Syrian side of the buffer zone on Tuesday, Netanyahu indicated that Israel intends to stay for a significant period. Speaking from Mount Hermon overlooking Syria, he stated that Israel would remain “until another arrangement is found that will guarantee Israel’s security.” The following is an overview of the evolution of Israel’s borders throughout history.
Israel’s Establishment:
In 1947, the United Nations approved a plan to divide British-controlled Mandatory Palestine into Jewish and Arab states, with Jerusalem under U.N. administration. Israel declared independence in May 1948, sparking a war with neighboring Arab countries. By the end of the conflict, Israel controlled about 77% of the territory, while Jordan held the West Bank and east Jerusalem, and Egypt administered the Gaza Strip.
1967 Middle East War:
During the six-day conflict in 1967, Israel captured the West Bank and east Jerusalem from Jordan, Gaza and the Sinai peninsula from Egypt, and the Golan Heights from Syria. While initially celebrated in Israel, this lightning victory set the stage for ongoing conflict. East Jerusalem was annexed by Israel, and settlements were established in the West Bank, which is considered occupied territory by most of the international community.
1979 Peace Agreement with Egypt:
Israel’s first peace deal with an Arab nation saw the return of the Sinai peninsula to Egypt and the dismantling of settlements there.
1981 Golan Annexation:
Israel annexed the Golan Heights, a strategic region overlooking northern Israel. In 2019, former President Donald Trump recognized Israel’s control, though the area is still considered occupied Syrian territory by most countries.
1982 Lebanon Invasion:
After a brief 1978 incursion into Lebanon, Israel reentered in 1982, leading to an 18-year occupation of southern Lebanon. Withdrawal in 2000 followed attacks from the Hezbollah militia.
1993 Oslo Accords:
Israel and the Palestinians reached an interim peace agreement.
The peace deal granting the Palestinians autonomy in Gaza and parts of the West Bank, while leaving Israeli settlements intact, was intended to pave the way for a two-state solution. However, repeated rounds of peace talks ultimately ended in failure. The Palestinians aspire to have all of the West Bank and Gaza for their hoped-for state, with east Jerusalem serving as their capital.
In 2005, then-Prime Minister Ariel Sharon spearheaded a unilateral withdrawal from Gaza, uprooting all troops and 21 settlements from the territory. Just two years later, Hamas militants overran Gaza and ousted the Palestinian Authority.
Fast forward to 2023, where tensions escalated with a war erupting in Gaza and Lebanon. In response to Hamas’ cross-border attack on October 7, Israel initiated an invasion of Gaza in an operation that is still ongoing. While Israeli leaders have not yet outlined a clear postwar plan, they have indicated intentions to maintain a buffer zone along Gaza’s border with Israel and establish some form of long-term military presence. Within Netanyahu’s governing coalition, certain hardliners have even advocated for the re-establishment of Jewish settlements.
Subsequently, Israeli ground troops moved into southern Lebanon in October after a year-long conflict with Hezbollah militants. Following a ceasefire agreement, Israel committed to withdrawing from an occupied strip of land by late January.
The fall of Assad marked a significant turning point as opposition forces successfully ousted the leader on December 8. Israeli military forces then moved into the Syrian side of the demilitarized buffer zone established after the 1973 Middle East war. Israel now controls the zone and conducts targeted operations further inside the country.
While Israel has asserted that its presence in Syria is temporary, the indefinite nature of this occupation has drawn international criticism from nations including Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and the United Nations. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has called on all countries with vested interests in Syria to work towards preventing additional conflicts.
The new Syrian government wasted no time in lodging a formal complaint with the U.N. Security Council regarding Israeli advancements into Syrian territory. The leader of the largest insurgent group, Ahmad al-Sharaa, publicly denounced Israel’s operations but clarified that Syria does not desire a military confrontation with its neighbor.
Carmit Valensi, an expert on Syria at Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies, expressed doubt that the Israeli presence will evolve into a prolonged occupation. She highlighted that Israel would face significant economic and military costs by prolonging such an occupation and emphasized the need to consider the evolving political landscape in Syria. Valensi suggested that if a moderate regime were to emerge aligning with al-Sharaa’s objectives, there would be no rationale for Israel to maintain control over the territories in the long term.
