Israel concerned about Trump’s Syria troop withdrawal plan

Israel is concerned about US President Donald Trump’s intention to withdraw thousands of American troops from Syria, Israel’s public broadcaster KAN reported.

KAN reported that senior White House officials conveyed to their Israeli counterparts the message that Trump plans to withdraw thousands of US troops from Syria.

In the news report, it was stated that the withdrawal of US forces from Syria would cause great concern in Tel Aviv, and it was evaluated that ‘this move is expected to affect the Kurds in Syria’.

It was noted that Trump’s plan to withdraw thousands of American troops from Syria has caused concerns in the political and military spheres in Israel.

‘Occupation is permanent’

Israeli Defence Minister Yisrael Katz emphasized that Israel will be ‘permanent’ on the Sheikh (Hermon) Mountain, where it expanded its occupation of the Golan Heights, which is Syrian territory according to international law.

According to the statement made by the Israeli Ministry of Defence, Katz stressed that Israel would establish contact with ‘friendly peoples’ in southern Syria and said, ‘We will especially focus on the large Druze communities that have historical and close family ties with our Druze brothers and sisters in Israel.’

The Israeli army also shared images of the ‘temporary’ military outposts it established on the Syrian side of Mount Hermon in the Golan Heights, where it expanded its occupation.

The Israeli army, which entered the buffer zone around the Golan Heights after the overthrow of the Assad regime, carried the occupation further and entered 20 kilometers close to the capital Damascus.

Trump and Netanyahu to meet on 4 February

On the other hand, it was announced that Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet at the White House on 4 February.

In a written statement made by the Israeli Prime Minister’s Press Office, it was detailed that Netanyahu was the first foreign leader Trump invited to the White House after he took the presidency for the second time.

According to the Israeli press, Trump and Netanyahu are expected to discuss regional issues, especially the ceasefire in Gaza.