Former Israeli Minister Warns Trump-Syria Rapprochement Could Threaten Golan Heights Control
Former Israeli minister and political figure Menachem Horowitz has expressed concern over recent warming ties between former U.S. President Donald Trump and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, warning that Israel could face a difficult dilemma in the future. Horowitz suggests that a broad regional agreement brokered by Trump might require Israel to either withdraw from parts of the Golan Heights or concede territory to Syria. He cautions against assuming Trump would prioritize Israeli interests, noting the former president's inconsistent foreign policy and personal motivations.
Horowitz draws parallels between the recent horrific attack on Israeli civilians during the Simchat Torah holiday and the surprise attacks of the Yom Kippur War 50 years earlier, emphasizing the need for Israel to remain militarily and mentally prepared for large-scale infiltrations, including on the Golan front. He recalls Israel's decisive military operation "Arrow of the Bashan" shortly after the fall of the Assad regime's forces, which eliminated much of the Syrian army to prevent weapons from falling into terrorist hands, thereby removing a strategic threat to Israel.
Since the Syrian civil war began 15 years ago, Israeli withdrawal from the Golan Heights has been off the table, especially after Trump officially recognized Israeli sovereignty over the area during his first term. This recognition led to increased integration of the local Druze population into Israeli society. However, the political landscape has shifted as Assad became the first Syrian president invited to the White House, and Trump publicly downplayed Assad's past, signaling a potential thaw.
Horowitz highlights that Trump’s unpredictable and often contradictory foreign policy has repeatedly forced Israel to adapt, citing examples such as the U.S. embassy move to Jerusalem, prisoner exchanges, and constraints on Israeli military actions against Iran and Hezbollah. He warns that if Trump pursues a comprehensive Middle East peace deal involving Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, the UAE, and Syria, he might demand Israeli concessions on the Golan Heights as a condition for Israel’s participation.
The former minister questions whether the current or future Israeli government would reject such demands, emphasizing that despite Trump's popularity in Israel, he is not a Zionist and ultimately acts based on American and personal interests. Horowitz urges caution and preparedness for all possible scenarios regarding the Golan Heights and regional diplomacy under Trump’s influence.
