Netanyahu: Iranians will dip their toes in Kinneret if Israel leaves Golan
“As long as it is dependent on me, the Golan will remain under Israeli sovereignty," Netanyahu said.
By Herb Keinon
If Israel withdraws from the Golan Heights it will find itself with Iran
and Hezbollah on the banks of Lake Kinneret, Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu said on Monday.
Speaking at the dedication of the restored 1,500-year-old synagogue at
the Umm al-Qanatir archeological site in the Golan Heights, Netanyahu
warned that Iran and Hezbollah are “continuously trying to establish a
force that will act against Israel in the Golan and Galilee. We will
thwart that.”The prime minister noted that Israel’s presence in the
Golan is a guarantor of stability in the area, and is justified by its
ancient Jewish ties – something he said the international community
should recognize.“As long as it is dependent on me, the Golan will
remain under Israeli sovereignty. Otherwise we will get Iran and
Hezbollah on the banks of the Kinneret.”
Netanyahu reiterated that Jerusalem will “continue to act against
Iranian efforts to open an additional front against us in the Golan and
in Syria, and will act against efforts to transfer lethal weapons to
Hezbollah.”
Last week, Russia delivered S-300 advanced anti-aircraft missile
batteries to Syria, making IAF action against Iranian positions in Syria
more challenging.
The prime minister said he will discuss this in his upcoming meeting
with Russian President Vladimir Putin. This will be the first meeting
between the two leaders since Syrian’s downing of a Russian intelligence
plane last triggered a crisis between Moscow and Jerusalem. “I know
that President Putin understands my commitment to Israel’s security, and
I know he also understands the importance I attribute to the Golan
Heights,” Netanyahu said.
Netanyahu also praised the restoration of Ein Keshatot, the largest
historical synagogue discovered in the Golan to date, which was
destroyed by an earthquake in 749 CE. The synagogue and connecting
spring are viewed as one of the most significant historical sites
uncovered in Israel, connecting the Jewish people to the Golan dating to
the Byzantine period.
“You can only secure your future when you secure your past,” stated
Netanyahu. “That is why we have given NIS 12.4 million to this project.”
The restoration, which took 15 years and cost NIS 30 million, was
carried out by engineer Yehoshua Drey and archeologist Haim Ben-David of
the Kinneret Academic College and Bar-Ilan University using 3D imaging
technology to return the fallen basalt stones to their original
positions.
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