Continuing with my series on Israel’s incursion into Syrian territory since the downfall of Assad’s regime, I present an interview conducted yesterday with a person from the al-Qunaytra locality of al-Rafid, which is located right on the border with the Golan Heights. I also interviewed this person back in October regarding the situation in the area when Israel and Hezbollah were at war.
One of the most important insights here is that Israel is really not winning local friends through its actions. This very much contrasts with any good will generated by the ‘Good Neighbour’ policy of the earlier years of the war in Syria, where medical treatment was provided to Syrians and an insurgent-held zone along the border was given some limited support to constitute a ‘buffer zone’ to keep the Iranians and Hezbollah away from the border with the Golan Heights.
Q: Is there any new development in al-Rafid?
A: There is nothing in al-Rafid, but it is expected the Israeli army will enter. Today they entered the Tapline road and the surround military outposts. They also cut the road between al-Mu‘allaqa and Sayda of the Jowlan. They entered al-Asbah yesterday and withdrew.
Q: There is talk about displacing some of the people from some of the villages and cutting the electricity and water in order to pressure them. What is happening exactly?
A: This has happened, but the people refused to leave. Negotiations took place between a delegation of the people and the commander of the northern region in the Israeli army. These negotiations lasted 10.5 hours.
Q: And what was the result?
A: They want all the weapons in the governorate, while establishing their own points on the existing points. No one knows what their aim is, but for sure they have created a new enemy in the future for themselves.
Q: Some say they want to annex these areas to the occupied Golan. Do the people of al-Rafid think this?
A: It’s possible they are thinking of the Druze villages like the village of Hadr in Qunaytra and give villages in Damascus countryside at the foot of Jabal al-Shaykh. But I do not think the rest of the villages will accept annexation.
Q: Sure, and Israel won’t accept annexing them so long as the inhabitants reject leaving.
A: We hope so. We hope the forces of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham will come to receive the borders.
They want all the weapons in the governorate, while establishing their own points on the existing points. No one knows what their aim is, but for sure they have created a new enemy in the future for themselves.
Q: Until now no one has left his home, or some left?
A: They removed the people of the village of Rasm al-Rawadhi under threats, and they prevented those who left the village of al-Hamidiya from returning. After the meeting that was held at the al-Qunaytra crossing, they allowed them to return.
Many of the youth think of having a confrontation but the notables urge them not to attack the Israeli army because the Israelis will indiscriminately kill civilians. They urge the youth to hold back so that the matter can be resolved by the new administration in Damascus. Many of the weapons in the villages they have entered have been handed over, but not all the weapons, for there are many who have refused to do so.
Q: Before these Israeli actions, what was the position of most of the people on Israel?
A: A mindset along the lines of the proverb: ‘Oh neighbour, you keep to yourself and I will keep to myself.’
Q: And now the position has become negative.
A: Very much so. People have begun to view them with strong enmity even if they cannot express it.
Q: In the villages of al-Qunaytra who is currently responsible for managing security? For example is there no Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham?
A: There is no security. The situation is unstable without security, with the exception of the Israeli provocations. There is no presence for Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham.
Q: What’s your view on the idea of getting into a war with Israel in order to expel it from these lands?
A: Currently it’s difficult because most of the people are civilians and only possess light arms.
Q: As for security, yes, I heard it’s just the youth of the locality.
A: Yes, of the people of the area, but they are not considered as a security authority, but rather just protection committees. I think Israel should correct its position and withdraw quickly, for every person who will leave the area will be part of a jihadist project in the future. No one wants to leave his house, and if we are compelled to do so, we will all join the jihadists.
Q: If Hezbollah offers you help to remove the Israelis, will you accept this?
A: We won’t accept it. We hope the matter will be resolved diplomatically and matters won’t devolve into war.
Q: You won’t accept their help even if they apologised for supporting Assad regime?
A: Even if they were of the Prophet’s companions, we wouldn’t accept help from them.
Q: Hahaha. Finally is your message to the ‘resistance axis’?
A: Time has exposed your identity and evil aims in trying to displace the Sunnis and alter their creed. You are proceeding to the dustbins of history, and God is predominant over His affair but most of the people don’t know.
