South Lebanon Army memorial in Marjayoun, later destroyed by Hezbollah, photo via WikipediaBESA Center Perspectives Paper No. 1,579, May 24, 2020
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: With the May 2000 abandonment of the South Lebanon Army, Israel signaled to its regional allies that it is not a reliable mainstay. This influenced the lukewarm response of the Golan Heights Druze to the Israeli offer of citizenship, as well as Israeli decision-making during the Syrian civil war regarding cooperation with Syrian militias in the villages near the Golan border.
Even after another generation has passed, it will be hard for Israel to undo the strategic damage caused …read more
