Israeli forces to maintain a buffer zone inside Syria, says Benjamin Netanyahu
Hindustan TimesPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday Israeli forces will stay in a buffer zone on the Syrian border, and specifically on the worl, “until another arrangement is found that will ensure Israel’s security.” Israeli Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu Netanyahu made the comments Tuesday from the mountain's snow-dusted summit — the highest peak in the area — which is located on Syria's side of the border. Israel seized a swath of southern Syria along the border with the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, calling it a buffer zone, in the days after Syrian President Bashar Assad was ousted by rebels. Israel’s capture of the buffer zone has sparked condemnation, with critics accusing Israel of violating a 1974 ceasefire and possibly exploiting the chaos in Syria for a land grab. Netanyau visited the buffer zone with Defense Minister Israel Katz, who said he instructed the Israeli military to quickly establish a presence including fortifications, in anticipation of what could be an extended stay in the area.