Reaching for the Heights: What the Return of the Golan Heights r

However, having visited the Heights and spending a weekend in Northern Israel, it became quite evident that the Heights are a vital strategic asset to Israel. I can understand the tremendous unease that returning the Heights to Syria would create among the inhabitants of the area. Reaching several thousand feet above the Sea of Galilee, the Heights would be able to dominate the entire area and force Israelis to worry about running for cover should hostilities commence.

In 1973, this was clearly evident when the Syrians launched a major attack as part of the Yom Kippur/October War. Syrian tanks and artillery nearly pushed Israeli Defense Forces off the Heights and only after reinforcements were able to arrive 24 hours later were the Israelis able to stabilize the situation and then push the Syrians well back into Syria. Had the Heights been in Syrian control, it is conceivable that Syria could have overrun Israeli settlements up and down the Galilee including the historic towns of Tzvat (Safed) and Tiberias. Therefore, it makes tremendous sense not to return the Golan Heights in return for a peace with Syria without Syria making major concessions and I would argue that anyone who suggests giving back the Golan should take a trip and see just what they would be giving away.

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