Israel needs strategic buffer zones with hostile territories - opinion

In the aftermath of Israel’s recent conflicts, many are contemplating the “Day After” scenarios for the region: how to stabilize the Middle East, reduce tensions between Israel and its adversaries, and ensure Israel remains a safer place for its citizens. While wars continue in Iran, the Gulf, and Lebanon, it’s crucial to start planning for the long-term future, even amid ongoing hostilities.

Egypt and Jordan remain key sources of weapons smuggling, much of it via drones used by criminal gangs and terrorist networks. I witnessed this firsthand while traveling along Israel’s longest border, the Jordan River Valley, with Israeli military intelligence (MI), and in briefings with MI in the South.

Along Israel’s northern and southern borders, residents often saw Hezbollah and Hamas fighters near the frontier, while hi-tech fences and military patrols were the only defenses. In the South, thousands of Gazans worked in Israeli communities. While I was in the North, with an Israeli lieutenant colonel, I witnessed a Hezbollah tent on Israeli territory along the Israeli-Syrian-Lebanese border just three days before October 7.

The brutal attacks that followed exposed the vulnerability of this approach.

Since October 7, Israeli public opinion has shifted drastically: the people now demand a visible, substantial military presence along the borders. They no longer want Hamas and Hezbollah operatives disguised as Gazan and Lebanese civilians a stone’s throw away from their homes. For Israelis in both the North and South, hi-tech protection is only effective when supported by a strong, noticeable military presence.

For long-term security, Israel needs strategic depth in the form of buffer zones within enemy or potential adversary territories. These zones are not just important for national defense but also for preserving the morale and safety of communities living along Israel’s borders.

Israel’s border security strategy must address five critical areas to ensure the safety of its citizens and prevent mass emigration from border communities.

The Gaza border communities were deeply traumatized by the events of October 7, when Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists and civilians carried out horrific terrorist attacks. Although most residents returned after the war, the threat remains. Hamas continues to strengthen its control over Gaza (Red Zone) and is preparing to confront Israel at a time of their choosing.

To protect the Galilee, Israel needs an extended buffer zone along the northern border, since promises from Lebanon to enforce UN Security Council Resolutions 1559 and 1701 to disarm the group are unlikely to be realized.

The Golan Heights, captured by Israel in 1967, provides a critical strategic advantage over Syria. From 1948 to 1967, Syria used this high ground to target communities in the Hula Valley of northern Galilee.

While the border is relatively calm due to IDF buffer zones established after Bashar Assad’s regime collapsed, hostile elements, including ISIS factions and Sunni Bedouins, remain active. Israel’s control of the Golan and positions like Mount Hermon, overlooking Lebanon and Syria, remains essential, especially given uncertainty over whether the Shaara regime might turn jihadist.

The Jordan River Valley has long been a porous border for weapons and drug smuggling, with criminal gangs and terrorists frequently using it to transfer contraband. Israel is investing in a multi-billion-dollar fence along the Jordan River to disrupt these illicit activities.

Since the 1979 Camp David Accords, Egypt and Israel have maintained a cold peace. However, Egypt has violated the terms of the agreement by allowing weapons to flow into the eastern Sinai, where underground facilities conceal offensive assets.

Before October 7, Egypt either turned a blind eye or profited from the transfer of weapons to Gaza via tunnels or the Rafah crossing. Today, drones from Egypt continue to smuggle weapons into both Israel and Gaza.

In recent years, some have argued that strategic depth is irrelevant in the age of missiles. However, this perspective overlooks the harsh realities faced by Israelis living in the Gaza border communities, the Negev, the Jordan River Valley, the Golan Heights, and the northern and western Galilee. These areas are constantly under threat, and without strategic depth, Israel’s future security is at risk.

The international community and future US administrations may challenge Israel’s border and buffer zone strategies, despite their basis in artificial borders drawn after World War I. Yet these zones are vital for protecting Israeli citizens.

After October 7, Israelis demand a permanent military presence along the borders. More than a matter of strategy, buffer zones are essential to Israel’s survival and long-term security and prosperity.