📰 Are Alliances Sufficient to Deter Israel Following the Attack on Beit Jinn?

A latest episode of In the Heart of the Nation, broadcast on Syria TV, explored Syria’s strategic options in response to Israel’s latest escalation. The discussion weighed the reliance on regional alliances and diplomatic outreach against the need for unshakeable national unity as the only true deterrent to occupation, in the wake of public outrage following the assault on the village of Beit Jinn, in the Damascus countryside. Debating the Power of International Law The programme opened with a pointed exchange between political analyst Hassan Daghim and journalist Udi Fenicher, recently returned from the Golan, on the proposition: “Can Israel be restrained through international law? ” Daghim argued that while international law is not sufficient on its own, it remains “a card that must be played” as part of a broader mobilisation of national strength. “Israel is not just a Syrian issue; it’s an international one,” he stated. “It was imposed through the convergence of colonial interests and the Zionist project, and it enjoys unrivalled Western backing, while we face sanctions and desperately need breakthroughs in our relations with the West. ” He insisted Syria must confront Netanyahu’s extremist narrative in Western capitals, build international partnerships that enhance security, and prioritise internal unity before any direct confrontation.

Fenicher, in contrast, dismissed legal approaches as “empty romanticism” in the face of ongoing settlement expansion and aggression in Quneitra. “We’re past the stage of air raids,” he stated. “This is about settlements and imposing faits accomplis. A cancer patient is not cured with moral backing. We are in a fight for existence — we either stand our ground or vanish. ” He criticised political elites for not being honest with the public about the limited options available and said Beit Jinn sent a clear message: the Syrian rifle can unite against occupation, regardless of sectarian or ethnic divides.

From Air Strikes to Ground Incursions: A emerging Phase of Escalation The programme featured a report by Furat Darobi detailing Israel’s transition, since the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024, from limited air strikes to a broader policy of ground occupation under the codename “Operation Arrow of Bashan. Indeed, ” as per the report, Israeli troops have: breached the ceasefire line in the Golan and the demilitarised buffer zone, carried out over 400 incursions into the governorates of Daraa and Quneitra — some reaching up to 15 kilometres in depth, established around 10 permanent armed forces and observation…