by Richard
Silverstein on June 26, 2015
Silverstein on June 26, 2015
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| Munther Khalil – Al Qaeda terrorist Israel was conveying in ambulance, who was killed |
This
post expands on my original one reporting this incident. Some
of the material in it may look familiar to those who read the original post.
This one names, for the first time outside of Syrian sources,
Munther Khalil, the Syrian Islamist killed by Golani Druze this week. It
also confirms that the IDF lied in claiming he was a civilian.
When
Israel conquered the Golan in 1967, it launched a 50-year occupation of the
Syrian Golan in which tens of thousands of Syrian Druze lived. Though an
armistice line now separates the Druze in Syrian and Israeli-occupied zones,
both communities are deeply intertwined. The sense of solidarity now, in
the midst of a raging civil war, is no different than Diaspora Jews felt in
1967 before the war broke out. Millions rallied around the world
concerned about Israel’s fate. Now the Druze in Israeli-held Golan are
fearful for the fates of their brothers and sisters.
Israel conquered the Golan in 1967, it launched a 50-year occupation of the
Syrian Golan in which tens of thousands of Syrian Druze lived. Though an
armistice line now separates the Druze in Syrian and Israeli-occupied zones,
both communities are deeply intertwined. The sense of solidarity now, in
the midst of a raging civil war, is no different than Diaspora Jews felt in
1967 before the war broke out. Millions rallied around the world
concerned about Israel’s fate. Now the Druze in Israeli-held Golan are
fearful for the fates of their brothers and sisters.
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| Israel’s friends in al-Qaeda |
Israel
claims, falsely, that it is neutral in the Syrian civil war. Unfortunately,
the world media are taken in by this charade. Israel intervenes regularly
on behalf of the Syrian Islamist rebels. The UN observed the IDF
unloading supplies in boxes at the armistice fence, which were then picked up
by Islamist fighters. Al Monitor even reported that the IDF shells
government positions inside Syria. The Israelis meet regularly with
al-Nusra commanders (who are affiliated with al-Qaeda) to offer
intelligence. A Syrian Druze videotaped one such meeting, which was aired
on Syrian TV. He was promptly secretly arrested by the Shabak. The
Israeli media was forbidden from reporting his name, Sedki al-Maket, thanks to
a security gag order (I was the only journalist outside Syria who reported his name and story).
claims, falsely, that it is neutral in the Syrian civil war. Unfortunately,
the world media are taken in by this charade. Israel intervenes regularly
on behalf of the Syrian Islamist rebels. The UN observed the IDF
unloading supplies in boxes at the armistice fence, which were then picked up
by Islamist fighters. Al Monitor even reported that the IDF shells
government positions inside Syria. The Israelis meet regularly with
al-Nusra commanders (who are affiliated with al-Qaeda) to offer
intelligence. A Syrian Druze videotaped one such meeting, which was aired
on Syrian TV. He was promptly secretly arrested by the Shabak. The
Israeli media was forbidden from reporting his name, Sedki al-Maket, thanks to
a security gag order (I was the only journalist outside Syria who reported his name and story).
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| Netanyahu gives a pep talk to wounded al-Nusra terrorist |
Israeli
TV reported that Israel has built a camp for Syrian army
deserters in Israeli occupied Golan. Israel has also bombed Hezbollah and
Iranian convoys inside Syria carrying advanced weaponry meant for the Lebanese
front. It has assassinated several senior Iranian generals and Hezbollah
commanders on Syrian soil as well. It opposes Assad not so much for
political or ideological reasons, but because the regime’s chief allies are
Israel’s arch-nemeses, Iran and Hezbollah.
TV reported that Israel has built a camp for Syrian army
deserters in Israeli occupied Golan. Israel has also bombed Hezbollah and
Iranian convoys inside Syria carrying advanced weaponry meant for the Lebanese
front. It has assassinated several senior Iranian generals and Hezbollah
commanders on Syrian soil as well. It opposes Assad not so much for
political or ideological reasons, but because the regime’s chief allies are
Israel’s arch-nemeses, Iran and Hezbollah.
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| Israel’s allies in al-Nusra |
Israel’s
alliance with Islamists makes for some strange bedfellows. Prime Minister
Netanyahu is the first to raise the rallying cry for western resistance to the
tyranny of Islamism. He regularly invokes the specter of the savagery of
ISIS in counterpoint to the civilizing force of Israel. But when it’s in
Israel’s interest, it’s more than willing to make common cause with such
forces.
alliance with Islamists makes for some strange bedfellows. Prime Minister
Netanyahu is the first to raise the rallying cry for western resistance to the
tyranny of Islamism. He regularly invokes the specter of the savagery of
ISIS in counterpoint to the civilizing force of Israel. But when it’s in
Israel’s interest, it’s more than willing to make common cause with such
forces.
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| Israeli soldiers stand on tanks in the Golan Heights |
Not
only is it hypocritical for Israel to join forces with Islamists; it’s likely
that today’s allies will turn into tomorrow’s enemies. Maariv journalist Jacki Hugi said it well:
only is it hypocritical for Israel to join forces with Islamists; it’s likely
that today’s allies will turn into tomorrow’s enemies. Maariv journalist Jacki Hugi said it well:
…Jerusalem
must ask itself some difficult questions: can its bet on the rebels pay
off? Or does stability on the northern border depend on the continuation
of the regime? Support for these sectarian groups carries many dangers.
Their trustworthiness fluctuates, as do the figures who lead them.
He who today will not act against Israel may change his spots
[literally “shed his skin”] tomorrow.
must ask itself some difficult questions: can its bet on the rebels pay
off? Or does stability on the northern border depend on the continuation
of the regime? Support for these sectarian groups carries many dangers.
Their trustworthiness fluctuates, as do the figures who lead them.
He who today will not act against Israel may change his spots
[literally “shed his skin”] tomorrow.
…Israeli
policy over the past few decades has been characterized by a series of bad
bets. At the end of the 1980s, it enabled Hamas to rise from the midst of
Gaza’s Islamist groups. It did this out of the flawed assumption
that this was the proper way to weaken Fatah…As a result [Israel] created its
own Trojan Horse [within Palestine].
policy over the past few decades has been characterized by a series of bad
bets. At the end of the 1980s, it enabled Hamas to rise from the midst of
Gaza’s Islamist groups. It did this out of the flawed assumption
that this was the proper way to weaken Fatah…As a result [Israel] created its
own Trojan Horse [within Palestine].
With
the IDF’s entrance [sic] into Lebanon in 1982, Israel disregarded the Shiites
and rushed to ally itself with those it saw as the most powerful in the land:
the Christians. So it paved the way for Tehran to offer protection to the
disadvantaged and enable the rise of Hezbollah.
the IDF’s entrance [sic] into Lebanon in 1982, Israel disregarded the Shiites
and rushed to ally itself with those it saw as the most powerful in the land:
the Christians. So it paved the way for Tehran to offer protection to the
disadvantaged and enable the rise of Hezbollah.
Something
very similar happened in Afghanistan when the mujahedeen were first our
friends, and then morphed into the Taliban and became our sworn enemies.
very similar happened in Afghanistan when the mujahedeen were first our
friends, and then morphed into the Taliban and became our sworn enemies.
So
far, the Syrian Islamists have deliberately not targeted Israel. This is
no doubt due to the aid it offers them on the battlefield. Further,
al-Nusra knows that Hezbollah is Israel’s primary opponent. The Lebanese
militia constantly probes in this sector and mounts attacks against Israeli
forces. Al-Nusra doesn’t seek or need to compete with Hezbollah in that
regard. It would rather confine is efforts to the Syrian theater, than
expand to attack Israel itself.
far, the Syrian Islamists have deliberately not targeted Israel. This is
no doubt due to the aid it offers them on the battlefield. Further,
al-Nusra knows that Hezbollah is Israel’s primary opponent. The Lebanese
militia constantly probes in this sector and mounts attacks against Israeli
forces. Al-Nusra doesn’t seek or need to compete with Hezbollah in that
regard. It would rather confine is efforts to the Syrian theater, than
expand to attack Israel itself.
Recently,
fighting on the Syrian side of Golan has heated up. There, the Druze villages
have been largely loyal to the Assad regime over the decades. When
al-Nusra and FSA forces attacked Druze villages in northern Syria, killing 20 residents, those living on the Israeli-occupied side of the
Golan became restive and angry. They couldn’t sit back and watch as their
cousins died at the hands of Islamists.
fighting on the Syrian side of Golan has heated up. There, the Druze villages
have been largely loyal to the Assad regime over the decades. When
al-Nusra and FSA forces attacked Druze villages in northern Syria, killing 20 residents, those living on the Israeli-occupied side of the
Golan became restive and angry. They couldn’t sit back and watch as their
cousins died at the hands of Islamists.
Not
to mention that their religion, though an offshoot of Islam, is considered
heretical by fundamentalist Islamists. The Druze under threat rightly
believe that they and their ancient religious traditions are in grave
jeopardy. Thus, Israel’s alliance with the al-Nusra front puts it
diametrically at odds with the Golani Druze under Israeli Occupation.
to mention that their religion, though an offshoot of Islam, is considered
heretical by fundamentalist Islamists. The Druze under threat rightly
believe that they and their ancient religious traditions are in grave
jeopardy. Thus, Israel’s alliance with the al-Nusra front puts it
diametrically at odds with the Golani Druze under Israeli Occupation.
In
recent days, Israeli TV aired an interview (Hebrew, at the 2:00 mark) with a wounded
Syrian fighter who was treated in Israel after being evacuated from the combat
zone. What he said raised the ire of the local Druze to the boiling
point:
recent days, Israeli TV aired an interview (Hebrew, at the 2:00 mark) with a wounded
Syrian fighter who was treated in Israel after being evacuated from the combat
zone. What he said raised the ire of the local Druze to the boiling
point:
TV
interview: “What would you do if you captured a Druze?” “It depends.”
interview: “What would you do if you captured a Druze?” “It depends.”
In
this context, the interview I mentioned above was a lightning bolt through the
Druze community. The interviewer asked the fighter (who was affiliated
with the FSA):
this context, the interview I mentioned above was a lightning bolt through the
Druze community. The interviewer asked the fighter (who was affiliated
with the FSA):
Interviewer:
[What would u do] if you caught an Alawite?
[What would u do] if you caught an Alawite?
A:
I would kill him
I would kill him
I: And if
you caught a Druze?
you caught a Druze?
A:
It depends
It depends
I:
And if you caught a Shiite?
And if you caught a Shiite?
A:
I would kill the Shiite
I would kill the Shiite
This
answer didn’t go down well among the Druze. Sandwiched between this vow
of murder directed at Syrian Alawites, the traditional Druze ally, is a
temporizing claim that he might or might not kill a captured Druze. This,
with the backdrop of 20 Druze murdered only a few days earlier, was
enough to mount a mini-revolt among Golani Druze.
answer didn’t go down well among the Druze. Sandwiched between this vow
of murder directed at Syrian Alawites, the traditional Druze ally, is a
temporizing claim that he might or might not kill a captured Druze. This,
with the backdrop of 20 Druze murdered only a few days earlier, was
enough to mount a mini-revolt among Golani Druze.
Munther Khalil, Syrian Islamist fighter killed by
Golani Druze
Golani Druze
Israel
regularly evacuates Islamist fighters wounded in the fighting against the
regime in the region. Angry local Druze intercepted an IDF ambulance carrying two wounded Syrians, whom the IDF claimed
were civilians. They beat the army medics, who were forced to flee.
They then beat one of the wounded Syrians to death and severely wounded
the other, before the authorities intervened and rescued him.
regularly evacuates Islamist fighters wounded in the fighting against the
regime in the region. Angry local Druze intercepted an IDF ambulance carrying two wounded Syrians, whom the IDF claimed
were civilians. They beat the army medics, who were forced to flee.
They then beat one of the wounded Syrians to death and severely wounded
the other, before the authorities intervened and rescued him.
Munther Khalil: the IDF’s Faux Syrian “Civilian”
Syrian
Islamists calling themselves the Revolutionary Command Council in Quneitra and
the Golan, published a Facebook memorial to the victim who was killed in the attack. The
page says in Arabic:
Islamists calling themselves the Revolutionary Command Council in Quneitra and
the Golan, published a Facebook memorial to the victim who was killed in the attack. The
page says in Arabic:
May
Allah have mercy on you, and accept you as one of the Shahids
Allah have mercy on you, and accept you as one of the Shahids
His
picture features him brandishing a gun in full rebel garb. He is clearly not
a civilian.
picture features him brandishing a gun in full rebel garb. He is clearly not
a civilian.
The
two wounded were from one of the Syrian rebel organizations fighting in the
heart of the Golan against the Syrian army.
two wounded were from one of the Syrian rebel organizations fighting in the
heart of the Golan against the Syrian army.
The
IDF lied in order to conceal its own contributing role in this tragic
incident. A common occurrence in such circumstances.
IDF lied in order to conceal its own contributing role in this tragic
incident. A common occurrence in such circumstances.
The
Israeli military is aghast at the Druze attack, since it infringes on its right
to meddle in Syrian internal affairs unmolested. Defense minister
Yaalon called the killing a “lynch.” This is Israeli code for ‘Arab savagery.’
It is used to differentiate Israeli behavior, supposedly civilized
and humane, from that of Palestinian (or Arab) militants.
Israeli military is aghast at the Druze attack, since it infringes on its right
to meddle in Syrian internal affairs unmolested. Defense minister
Yaalon called the killing a “lynch.” This is Israeli code for ‘Arab savagery.’
It is used to differentiate Israeli behavior, supposedly civilized
and humane, from that of Palestinian (or Arab) militants.
In
the case of the Golan killing, the IDF is attempting to paint the Golani Druze
as uncivilized beasts when, in fact, they are legitimately angry at
Israel’s new alliance with their enemies, the al-Nusra Front. When Israel
first occupied the Golan did it figure that the inhabitants would embrace the
occupiers and become like them? Did it give any thought to the views and
interests of the occupied and how they differed from those of Israelis?
It’s doubtful. Now they are paying the price for their obliviousness and
for fifty years of military occupation of Syrian Druze.
the case of the Golan killing, the IDF is attempting to paint the Golani Druze
as uncivilized beasts when, in fact, they are legitimately angry at
Israel’s new alliance with their enemies, the al-Nusra Front. When Israel
first occupied the Golan did it figure that the inhabitants would embrace the
occupiers and become like them? Did it give any thought to the views and
interests of the occupied and how they differed from those of Israelis?
It’s doubtful. Now they are paying the price for their obliviousness and
for fifty years of military occupation of Syrian Druze.
The
latter are now demanding that Israel intervene in the civil war to save their
brethren under attack from al-Nusra. This is the sort of insanely complex
strategic dilemma that comes from playing with fire. If Israel continues
its “arrangement” with al-Nusra and the latter conquers Syrian Druze
villages and imposes fundamentalist Islam replete with revenge killings and
beheadings, then it risks igniting a tinderbox inside Israeli-occupied Golan.
If it takes the side of the Druze against al-Nusra it risks the leverage
it has with the only viable force opposing Israel’s most dangerous enemies,
Hezbollah and Iran.
latter are now demanding that Israel intervene in the civil war to save their
brethren under attack from al-Nusra. This is the sort of insanely complex
strategic dilemma that comes from playing with fire. If Israel continues
its “arrangement” with al-Nusra and the latter conquers Syrian Druze
villages and imposes fundamentalist Islam replete with revenge killings and
beheadings, then it risks igniting a tinderbox inside Israeli-occupied Golan.
If it takes the side of the Druze against al-Nusra it risks the leverage
it has with the only viable force opposing Israel’s most dangerous enemies,
Hezbollah and Iran.
When
you play with matches, you’re bound to get burned.
you play with matches, you’re bound to get burned.
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