Former Israeli Commander Urges Natural Borders for Lasting Security After Upcoming War
Retired Colonel Amir Noy argues that Israel's next war should not only defeat its enemies but also establish sustainable borders based on natural geographic features. He emphasizes that borders drawn merely as lines on a map, whether by international agreements or historical decisions, do not guarantee security if they lack strategic depth and natural barriers such as rivers, mountain ridges, or valleys. Noy calls for a new Israeli border concept incorporating topography, strategic depth, buffer zones, international supervision, and clear Israeli military response capabilities to prevent recurring conflicts.
He references the Alon Plan after the Six-Day War, which advocated for borders aligned with natural terrain to provide early warning and defense advantages. Despite modern technology like missiles and drones, physical space and control over terrain remain crucial for security. Noy warns against repeating mistakes like the Sykes-Picot Agreement, where artificial borders drawn by foreign powers ignored local realities, leading to ongoing instability.
Regarding specific borders, Noy highlights the Israel-Syria frontier, where the 1974 separation agreement and UN peacekeeping force created a buffer zone that maintained relative calm for decades. However, after the Assad regime's collapse in 2024, Israel expanded its control in the area to neutralize remaining military threats. He stresses that Israel should not revert automatically to old lines but seek arrangements based on current strategic needs.
In Lebanon, Noy points to the Litani River as a natural strategic boundary that could serve as a security line if Lebanon agrees, noting Hezbollah's violations south of it. On the eastern border with Jordan, increased smuggling and incursions require renewed defense measures, including barrier construction. Gaza remains the most challenging case; unilateral withdrawal without security arrangements led to increased hostilities, so Israel must maintain effective control and security mechanisms along that border.
Noy also advocates for robust international monitoring with enforcement powers, including sanctions for violations, rather than passive observation. He concludes that Israel must secure borders that nature helps defend, with buffer zones providing early warning and military capacity to eliminate threats. True peace, he asserts, begins not with lines on a map but with borders that enemies cannot breach.
