Syria's Financing To Rebuild, Part V

Nadene Goldfoot                                                    

    Damascus, Syria;  Decembeer 21, 2024.  

Rebuilding Syria is estimated to cost at least $216 billion, according to a late 2025 World Bank report, with some estimates ranging up to $343 billion or even over $400 billion, representing a massive undertaking nearly ten times the country's pre-war GDP, covering infrastructure, economic revival, and addressing deep-seated damage from years of conflict.  Yet Jolani is asking for 7 trillion dollars for the work.  That's what you do in the Middle East, start with a large number and then come down to an satisfactory number for both.  

                      Damascus, before the Civil War

Syria is left as a fractured nation recovering from a long civil war, characterized by massive displacement, severe economic hardship, destroyed infrastructure, and ongoing instability, with a new government facing challenges integrating diverse armed groups and addressing persistent humanitarian crises, particularly in the northeast (Kurdish-controlled SDF) and south (Druze areas). While the Assad regime fell in late 2024, large parts of the country remain contested, with the Kurdish-led SDF holding significant territory and ISIS remnants persisting, leading to internal conflict and fragile security. It seems like they have to get rid of ISIS.  

The Bible, primarily in Isaiah 17,; Isaiah was a prophet of 740-701 BCE, who prophesies the destruction of Damascus, stating it will cease to be a city and become a heap of ruins, its royal power ending, with only remnants left like Israel's faded glory. Other prophets, including Jeremiah and Amos, also foretold divine judgment on Damascus for its cruelty, mentioning fire consuming its palaces and its people falling in the streets. These prophecies connect Damascus's fall with the judgment of Israel, ultimately leading the remnant to turn back to God. "God will punish the nations near Israel.   Amos 1:3-2:3: Amos was a prophet from Judea in the 8h cent.BCE The Lord says, ‘The people in Damascus have done more and more wrong things. So I will certainly punish them!

"Yes from the heart" - posters of President Bashar al-Assad are everywhere in government-controlled parts of Syria

They have been cruel to the people in Gilead. They used their iron weapons to tear them into pieces.  I will send a fire to destroy the palace that King Hazael built. It will destroy the strong buildings of King Ben-Hadad.  I will also break the strong gates of the city of Damascus. I will remove all the people who live in the Aven valley. I will remove the king of Beth-Eden. Their enemies will take the people of Syria far away to Kir as prisoners.’ That is what the Lord says.

So now we're repeating some of the same problems we had in 800 BCE, 10 centuries ago.  But we see Damascus being much larger and some still standing.  

Life in Damascus today is a complex mix of post-war normalcy, ongoing economic hardship, and vibrant cultural resilience, with people navigating shortages through queues and cash-based systems while enjoying burgeoning arts scenes, though security remains a concern for travelers, as the conflict officially ended in late 2024 but instability persists. 

Syrian reactions to the October 7th attacks were mixed, with the Assad regime blaming Israel for regional instability and condemning its response, while opposition-held areas saw large-scale protests expressing solidarity with Gaza, juxtaposing their own suffering under the regime with the Palestinian plight. Militant groups linked to Iran fired rockets from Syria into Israel, prompting Israeli strikes on Syrian targets, though Syria largely remained quiet otherwise as the conflict expanded, impacting aid to Syrians. 

• Rocket Fire: Iranian-backed groups in Syria fired rockets into Israel, prompting Israeli airstrikes on Syrian military targets. 

Broader Impacts

• Regional Spillover: The conflict exacerbated existing regional tensions, drawing Syria into the broader Iran-Israel confrontation.
• Aid Diversion: The war in Gaza threatened to divert crucial international aid away from Syria, compounding existing humanitarian crises there, noted The New Humanitarian.
• Resource; 
• https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-68684068
•  https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/international-reactions-hamas-attack-israel#:~:text=Around%20the%20globe%2C%20representatives%20of,immediate%20de%2Descalation%20of%2 0violence.
• Syrian Contact

The Aftermath in Syria After Military Complex With Missiles Hit

Nadene Goldfoot                                                                 

                                                                       
                                       Syria's Civil War of Two Years, Supporters of Hezbollah

While Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel kept his appointment in China, who was hosting both Netanyahu and the "Palestinian President" Mahmoud Abbas Monday,  the USA Secretary of State, John Kerry, was in Russia to talk with them because they are Syria's most powerful ally.   The visit in China centered on their interest in playing a more active role in diplomacy because they are looking for more "markets, resources and diplomatic influence".

The  window of circumstance had opened, meanwhile, back in Israel where they had discovered that there existed extensive missiles at a site meant for Hezbollah terrorists to use against Israel.  This complex must also hold the chemical weapons they have already started to use.  Because of that alone, Israel was forced to issue gas masks to their entire population.  We know that they had two choices;  wait to be hit by thousands of missiles that could reach and wipe out Tel Aviv and hit as far as southern Israel from inside Lebanese territory or conduct a preemptive strike, which they have had to defer to before.  These missiles are bad enough as they are, but could also be tipped with chemical warfare.   Unlike the USA, information is accurate from their sources and the danger  is so close that one can just about see the target with binoculars from Israel.

The decision was made, unofficially.    It wasn't like not having warned Bashar Assad before about this problem.  Israel pin pointed the target and reports are that the sky was lit up.  The arms that were hit were causing a boom and a very frightful force felt by many.  In the end, we find that that this airstrike on Syria's military complex near Damascus killed about 42 Syrian soldiers.

The USA could not make such a decision and also its existence was not threatened like Israel is.  It's been aiding the rebels in other more humanitarian ways with such things as food.  Now Moscow realizes, and should have known anyway, that Israel wasn't waiting around for approval from the international community to deter this threat to their lives.  When Israel says, "This is the red line,"  they mean it.  Russia and China, giants of countries, have blocked USA's efforts 3 times already to even pressure Assad into stepping down.  Iran doesn't want him to, either, as he's their puppet and also on their take.

What this can cause now is a switch over of sympathy and it gives the Arabs cause to go over to Assad's side instead of the rebels.  The main picture in the Oregonian is that of Iranian and Syrian students chanting slogans during an anti-Israel demonstration Monday in front of the UN office in Tehran, Iran.  This will cause many to join them in their assessment against Israel, who are against them anyway.  Now they can really yell.

Assad has managed to kill off over 70,000 of his own people in his zeal to hold onto his kingship in the past 2 years alone.  Evidently life in such a police state was hard to deal with, causing such an Arab Spring in the first place.  It's been hard to rule people in Syria and Iraq as it is which has brought on such hard-nosed rulers in the first place who deal with an extremely volatile people.  These are hot countries that have hot-headed people.  Assad is holding onto what he thinks is his for dear life.  He's not about to step down.

Crippled Syria is nevertheless calling out that this strike that they figure came from Israel is a declaration of war.  I have news for Syria.  They never signed a peace agreement with Israel, either, and has been one of the prime leaders in all the wars against Israel.  It's known in this world that if one country has threatening moves on another, whether it be thousands of soldiers lined up ready to strike or missiles known to be destined to hit that country, one is allowed a pre-emptive strike for self defense.

By conducting this important airstrike, of which CNN TV news has had non-stop videos and comments yesterday, Israel inadvertently aided the rebels a great deal by destroying the military complex completely.  One cannot find but pieces of it remaining.  The blast permeating from it shows the level of the contents inside; huge.

The rebel were not asleep .  They shot down a military helicopter which killed 8 government troops in the east, while another group of rebels were inside a sprawling military air base in the north fighting on their 2nd day Sunday and Monday.  Assad's warplanes were pounding rebel positions inside the Mannagh air base in the north and the army had regained control of 6 villages that link the northern city of Aleppo with its airport.

The report from Syria's "OMRAN AL-ZOUBI, Syrian Information Minister: The Israeli invaders committed a blatant act of aggression against Syria. The Syrian military has the right and responsibility to protect its country and people from any form of infringement either at home or abroad."  Yes sir, if anyone has the right to kill off Syrians, it is the Syrian government.  How can this man keep a straight face when he says this?

Resource: Oregonian newspaper, 5/7/13 page A5, Israeli airstrikes complicate US efforts to aid Syria rebels.
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/world/jan-june13/syria1_05-06.html

Three Lost Syrian Tanks Who Are in Israel's Golan Heights

Nadene Goldfoot
Are they really off track?  Three Syrian tanks entered the Golan Heights, home to 18,000 Jews, and  belonging to Israel on Saturday.  It's a demilitarized zone.  The distance from the Golan to Haifa is only 60 miles!  The violence in Syria seems to be spilling into Israel now.  These tanks haven't left yet.  They have been attacking Syrian rebels.  The is the first incursion in the past 40 years.

Of course Israel has complained to the UN about it.  Israelis have reported hearing the shouting of  "Allahu Akbar!"  The UN response is low-key saying it didn't see the Syrian armor as an immediate threat.  So for them it's okay for an enemy to park 60 miles from a major Israeli city and make war on its people from Israel and of course they won't turn an then attack Israelis.

However, Israel is not stupid.  The IDF is ready to defend Israel.  The area is very small consisting of 250,000 acres , but surely these tanks know where they arrived.  The Golan Heights was a part of the 1967 War that Israel won against huge odds of the many Muslim countries against tiny Israel. The word "Heights" tells you of the terrain.  It is from 400 to 1700 feet high and overlooks the Huleh Valley.   The Golan Heights is important to Israel for their security measures.  Otherwise an enemy can bombard Israel from on high. The Arabs would bombard kibbutzim along the upper Jordan Valley. " In a surprise attack on Yom Kippur, the Syrians overran the Golan Heights before being repulsed by Israeli counterattacks.  After the war, Syria signed a disengagement agreement that left the Golan in Israel's hands".  Many Israelis live there today.  There is one major city and 32 towns.   In 1985 the population, include the Druze was 22,500.

 Our history goes way back with the Golan Heights.  It had come into Moses's hands when King Og ruled the  Amorites of Bashan. Og, referred to as a giant,  was killed by the Israelites at Edrei   The kings of Israel had to fight the Aramaeans from Damascus here.  Golan had been a city of refuge for the Jews.  It was a capital in 2nd Temple times and had a Jewish settlement until the 5th Century CE.

In the meantime, Islamic Syrian militants made an assault on a Syrian airbase in the north.  They were trying to disrupt strikes by Syrian warplanes and helicopters.  These government planes hit targets in the Damascus suburbs and killed at least 10 and wounded dozens.  So if that's where the rebels were, why are the tanks in the Golan Heights?

The Golan Heights would be big enough for 400 settlers in Oregon who would have bought 640 acre plots that had been offered to them for $1 per acre in the Homestead Act of 1862 with one farmer being shorted. Then again, since most couldn't afford this, 320 acre plots were sold off.

Resource:  http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Article.aspx?ID=290414&R=R1
Oregonian newspaper 11/3/12 page  A2 Developments in the Middle East:  Syria
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golan_Heights
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Og
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Peace/golan_hts.html
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Peace/golanstats.html
The New Standard Jewish Encyclopedia
http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/homestead-act/

Giving Up Golan Heights For Peace ?

Nadene Goldfoot                                                                      

Giving Up Golan Heights For Peace

Let it not be said that Israel hasn't given up land for peace. It has in the past and is willing to do it again. Surprisingly, Israel's Olmert has offered Syria the Golan Heights in exchange for peace. He has asked that Syria cuts it ties with terrorist groups of Palestinians in Damascus. Israel had received the Golan Heights after the 1967 Six Day War where Syria was one of many Arab countries attacking Israel.

The problem is that the Golan Heights is now home to 20,000 Israelis. It is a beautiful area. Even the rabbis are against the offer and say it goes against Halacha. Army officials are saying that the topography is less important now than it was in 1967. Fighting has changed. What they might be worried about is guerilla warfare.

Reference: Jerusalem Post