Netanyahu says Israeli troops will occupy a buffer zone inside Syria for the foreseeable future

JERUSALEM (AP) -- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israeli forces will stay in a buffer zone on the Syrian border, and specifically on the summit of Mount Hermon, "until another arrangement is found that will ensure Israel's security." Netanyahu made the comments from the mountain's summit, the highest peak in the area, which is located on the Syrian side of the border. He added that he had been on the summit of Mount Hermon 53 years ago as a soldier, but the summit's importance to Israel's security has only increased, especially given recent events. Critics accusing Israel of violating a 1974 ceasefire that established the buffer zone, and possibly exploiting the chaos in Syria for a land grab.

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