After the fall of the Assad regime, Israel occupied the demilitarized zone on the Syrian side of the Golan Heights, including part of Mount Hermon, where an abandoned Syrian military post is located.
Israel has developed a plan to double the population in the occupied Golan Heights, citing threats from Syria, despite the recent ouster of President Bashar al-Assad. Reuters wrote this on Sunday, December 15.
The decision was announced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
“Strengthening the Golan strengthens the state of Israel,” he explained.
At the same time, Netanyahu emphasized that Israel is not looking for a conflict with Syria, but is forced to respond to potential threats, especially the presence of terrorist groups near the borders.
The plan calls for an investment of more than 40 million shekels ($11 million) to stimulate demographic growth in the territory.
Israel has controlled most of the Golan Heights since 1967, after the Six-Day War, and officially annexed it in 1981. However, the annexation is not recognized by most of the world’s countries, and Syria insists on the return of territories.
Israel’s decision has already drawn condemnation from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. UAE, which normalized relations with Israel in 2020. They called this decision “a deliberate attempt to expand the occupation.”
The Golan Heights is home to about 31,000 Israelis and another 24,000 people, most of whom identify as Syrians.
The Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), Abu Mohammed al-Julani (also known as Ahmed al-Sharaa), who led the rebel offensive in Syria, criticized Israel for its attacks on the territory of Syria.
As you know, after the Syrian armed opposition came to power, Israel carried out hundreds of strikes on military and other targets in Syria, citing the need to prevent possible future terrorist threats. In particular, the Syrian navy was destroyed.
And on December 8, Israeli ground forces for the first time since the October War of 1973 openly crossed into Syrian territory, crossing the demilitarized zone on the border. Israeli authorities called it a temporary measure.
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Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.