On Dec. 17 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu traveled with a military retinue to the summit of Mount Hermon—the highest peak in the area—which is some 10 km inside Syria, beyond the Israeli-held Golan Heights. According to multiple media accounts,, Israel has seized some 400-square-kilometers (155-square miles) of Syrian territory, which it has proclaimed a demilitarized zone. Netanyahu proclaimed: “"We will stay ... until another arrangement is found that ensures Israel’s security.”
According to AP, Defense Minister “Katz said he instructed the Israeli military to quickly establish a presence, including fortifications, in anticipation of what could be an extended stay in the area. `The summit of the Hermon is the eyes of the state of Israel to identify our enemies who are nearby and far away,’ he said.”
