Interactions with the Israelis in Southern Syria: Interview with a Local in al-Qunaytra
Following on from an interview conducted with a source in the al-Qunaytra locality of al-Rafid that lies on the border with the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights, I present here another interview with a person from a nearby locality called Kudna, which has also seen Israeli incursions.
The interview gives considerable insight into an apparent Israeli ‘carrot-and-stick’ approach towards the local population, local sentiment about the Israeli presence, whether there is any hint of a local armed insurgency against the Israeli presence, and the broader issue of ‘normalisation’ of relations between Syria and Israel. This interview was conducted on 1 September.
Q: How are things?
A: Oh brother Aymenn, by God, I am fine, but our situation is not good with the Israeli army.
Q: What happened?