Nathan Shachar: Despite harsh words, Israel may be forced to leave Syria and Lebanon
Translated from Swedish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
Analysis
Named sources
Context piece
- U.S. President Donald Trump has reiterated his demand for Israel to withdraw from its security zones in southern Syria and Lebanon.
- Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated the withdrawal would not happen, but the author suggests this is posturing for domestic politics.
- The article suggests Israel may eventually have to comply with U.S. demands regarding these territories, despite current rhetoric.
U.S. President Donald Trump has once again called for Israel to vacate its so-called security zones in southern Syria and Lebanon. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has publicly declared that this will not occur. However, it remains uncertain whether Israel truly intends to defy the White House.
Trump, who has personally engaged in these conflicts, is keen to prevent Israel from permanently stationing its forces in areas where he has pledged to mediate peace. During a recent phone call with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump made this position clear once more. Katz's assurances about maintaining forces on these fronts are seen as less dramatic than they appear, as he does not make independent decisions; Netanyahu holds the ultimate authority.
He thinks it is very unfortunate and frankly a disgrace.
Katz's current focus appears to be the Likud party's primary elections, where he aims to defeat rivals and position himself as Netanyahu's successor. His assertive declarations are interpreted as being directed at the party's primary voters rather than the White House. Nevertheless, the article posits that Israel will ultimately be unable to disregard U.S. demands in the long term.
He wants to see Israel leave the 400 square kilometers of Syrian territory it holds since December 2024.
During a tense phone call, Trump reportedly urged Netanyahu to withdraw from the 400 square kilometers of Syrian territory occupied since December 2024. Trump also recommended that Israel leave Lebanon, where Israel and the Lebanese government are cooperating to disarm Iran-backed Hezbollah. Trump suggested that Syrian President Ahmad al-Sha’ara could manage Hezbollah more effectively than Israel has.
The article also touches upon the Gaza situation, noting a potential future clash between Netanyahu and Trump. Trump's Gaza peace plan, which aimed to replace Hamas rule with a negotiating-friendly Palestinian government, has stalled. Hamas continues to control Gaza, and the UN has protested Hamas's interference in aid distribution, with sources indicating Hamas diverts resources for its army's reconstruction.
The Syrian president, Ahmad al-Sha’ara, could 'take care of' Hezbollah much more effectively than Israel has.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by Dagens Nyheter in Swedish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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