Israel has approved a plan to surge the settler population in the occupied Golan Heights, doubling the current number of 31,000 settlers. The move comes days after rebel groups toppled Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad and weeks before Donald Trump’s return as US president.
The Israeli government has allocated over $11 million to increase the settler population, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praising the plan, saying it will “strengthen the State of Israel.” However, critics argue that the move is an attempt to entrench Israeli occupation and make it permanent.
International law considers Israel’s occupation of the Golan Heights illegal. The US has recognized Israeli sovereignty over the area under Trump’s presidency, but Saudi Arabia and other countries have condemned the new plan, accusing Israeli leaders of sabotaging Syria’s transition.
Netanyahu’s office said the plan only applies to the portion of the Golan Heights Israel has occupied since 1967, excluding the newly seized territory. The approval comes as Netanyahu discussed the situation in Syria with Trump during a phone call on Saturday and efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement in Gaza.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/12/15/israel-approves-plan-to-surge-settler-population-in-occupied-golan-heights