Damascus is 60 kilometers away. Syria used the Golan as an invasion route in three of its wars with Israel. The southern Golan's rivers form a natural barrier, impassable for armored vehicles, difficult for infantry to cross. In the north and east, hills and mountains form a defensive line. The few points of passage can be defended by a small number of troops.
Outposts can spot a Syrian buildup.
Missiles, artillery and planes can do much damage, but they cannot maintain control of territory. Only infantry and armored corps can invade, and forces of this kind are vulnerable to natural boundaries. So, naturally, in March of last year, when Clinton met with the late Hafez Assad in Geneva, in the name of Ehud Barak's government he offered to return all of the Golan to Syria, with certain conditions. Israel was saved by Syrian intransigence. Imagine Iraqi troops on the Golan.