A feature of the Israeli/Syrian General Armistice Agreement (GAA) was the provision for the establishment of a special DMZ between the countries. The DMZ established by the GAA between Israel and Syria was "defined with a view toward separating the armed forces of the two parties in such manner as to minimize the possibility of friction and incident, while providing for the gradual restoration of normal civilian life in the area of the DMZ, without prejudice to the ultimate settlement." This provision had to be made because of the divergent viewpoints of the two parties during the armistice negotiations as to the sovereignty of the areas within the boundaries of the former British Mandated Territory which had been occupied by Syrian troops. A Compromise agreement was finally reached under