Syria and Israel: When the Language of Dialogue Breaks Down

The article analyzes Syria-Israel relations amid a stark imbalance of power, arguing that the core dispute is between two irreconcilable visions over the Golan Heights, while other issues such as control of Mount Hermon, Israeli military points in southern Syria and intervention to protect minorities are merely tools of pressure. It points to the "Sufa 53" project stretching more than 70 kilometers in southern Syria, which would allow Israel to move easily along the Quneitra front, and to Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz's announcement rejecting withdrawal from Mount Hermon and the security zone. It concludes that President Ahmad al-Sharaa possesses only the political and legal framework through demands for Israeli withdrawal and security arrangements, while pursuing a policy of buying time and strengthening regional alliances.