From Mt. Hermon: Residents of Hader, Syria, reject Israeli occupation

By Al Mayadeen English
13 Dec 2024 22:15
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Residents of Mount Hermon's Hader village are calling for a unified Syria rather than an Israeli-occupied one.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, center, talks with Israeli soldiers at a military outpost during a visit at Mount Hermon in the occupied Golan Heights overlooking the Palestine-Syria border on Feb. 4, 2015. (AP)

The Spiritual and Social Authority of the town of Hader, Syria, in the Mount Hermon region, issued a statement asserting that the content of a video circulated on social media, showing individuals calling for "joining Israel", is in direct contradiction to the historical stance of the town's residents.

Hader's residents stressed that their historical stance only cements their profound belonging to the Syrian nation, affirming that the town is part and parcel of a unified Syria. The statement further emphasized that this position was unshakeable and congenial with the rest of the Syrian people's stance on the matter.

According to the statement, any contrary opinion is considered "illegitimate, and does not represent the position of the general population of Hader, and is but a personal opinion."

The residents expressed hope that this "critical phase will lead to a united Syria, where justice, equality, and democracy prevail, free from fanaticism, sectarianism, regionalism, and tribalism."

In the same context, Faris Saqr, one of the town's residents, affirmed that the people of Hader are "faithful to the homeland that unites its people," reiterating the position stated in the statement, which asserts that the town is "an inseparable part of Syria."

In an interview with Al Mayadeen, Saqr expressed his rejection of any occupation of Syrian lands, stressing "recognition of Syria only." He further stated, "There is a transitional period in Syria, and the political vision of the new government has not yet become clear; everyone must wait."

'Israel' occupies Mount Hermon, advances to central Syria

The Israeli military occupied Syria’s Mount Hermon with Israeli occupation forces advancing several kilometers into the Syrian Golan, Israeli media reported on Sunday.

The media said Israeli forces took control of the highest point in the Hermon Mountain inside Syrian territory, pointing out that this point lies within the buffer zone and is under the responsibility of the United Nations.

Since then, "Israel" struck over a hundred sites across Syria, destroying its military abilities, and advanced its tanks to the Damascus countryside.

As part of its continued incursions into Syria, the Israeli occupation military also issued warnings to residents of villages in western rural Daraa, ordering them to remain in their homes, according to Al Mayadeen’s correspondent.

Israeli Security Minister Israel Katz ordered the military to "prepare to remain" throughout the winter in the UN-patrolled buffer zone on the Golan Heights.

"Due to the situation in Syria, it is of critical security importance to maintain our presence at the summit of Mount Hermon, and everything must be done to ensure the (army's) readiness on-site to enable the fighters to stay there despite the challenging weather conditions," Katz's spokesman said in a statement Friday.