JPOST
Israel’s shield for Syria’s Druze and the regional shakeup no one expected
Herb Keinon
February 24, 2025
…While the Druze inside the 1967 lines are full citizens who fight for the country, those on the Golan – though offered citizenship when Israel annexed the Golan Heights in 1981 – long refused it. They feared that aligning with Israel could endanger their families in Syria or backfire if Israel, as was widely discussed in the late 1990s and early 2000s, withdrew from the Golan in exchange for peace with Damascus. Even before Assad’s fall, however, a shift was under way. Over the past decade, more Golan Druze have begun identifying with Israel. By the end of 2023, about one-fifth of some 27,000 Druze on the Golan had acquired Israeli citizenship. Assad’s downfall has accelerated this trend, and now, even some Druze on the Syrian side of the border are interested in being incorporated into Israel. READ MORE
YNET IDF to remain in parts of Syria and Lebanon indefinitely, Netanyahu says Prime minister says IDF will remain in key positions in Syria and Lebanon to protect Israeli communities and thwart any threat, emphasizing Israel’s demand for the full demilitarization of southern Syria from forces of the new regime. Speaking at a ceremony for graduates of the IDF’s combat officer course, Netanyahu stated: “In Syria, IDF forces will remain in the Mount Hermon area.”
ArchitectGuy on Israel 
In light of the recent offer by the Egyptian government offering land for a Palestinian State (Gaza) in the Sinai Peninsula, what are some possible outcomes to this move?
Egypt’s offer to provide land in the Sinai Peninsula for a Palestinian state presents a potential solution, it faces significant opposition from within Egypt and other Arab nations. Much as did President Sadat’s decision to make peace with Israel. The situation remains fluid, with ongoing discussions and alternative proposals aiming to address the complex humanitarian, security, and political challenges involved.
Arab leaders, particularly from Gulf states, Egypt, and Jordan, are urgently devising an alternative to U.S. President Donald Trump’s controversial plan for Gaza’s reconstruction that involves evicting its inhabitants. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia is leading the initiative, aiming to establish a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
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