Upon departing from Washington, DC, early Tuesday morning, following the signing of a proclamation by President Donald Trump recognizing Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights, a joyous Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared, likely with several Arab foes in mind: “There is a very important principle in international life – when you start wars of aggression, you lose territory; do not come and claim it afterwards. It belongs to us.”
We could be picky and point out that it was Israel that started the 1967 Six-Day war which ended with the conquest of what used to be known as the Syrian Heights – but for all intents and purposes it was the military coalition of Syria, Egypt and Jordan that amassed military forces along Israel’s borders and blocked Israel’s naval path in the Red Sea, all of which made war inevitable. Israel was just faster.
It should also be pointed out that the lesson Netanyahu was trying to teach Syrian president Bashar al-Assad may as well have also been directed at the Hamas Terroracracy:
“I am taking this plane quickly in order to return home and go directly to the Defense Ministry. We are dealing with the security matters,” Netanyahu announced, adding, “We have responded very, very forcefully. Hamas needs to know that we will not hesitate to go in and take all necessary steps – regardless of anything, any date, other than Israel’s security needs.”
We’d like very much to see Prime Minister Netanyahu apply the lessons of 1967 to the Gaza Strip: “When you start wars of aggression, you lose territory.”
Bonne chance, Mr. Prime Minister.