Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government has approved an $11 million plan to double the settler population in the occupied Golan Heights, intensifying tensions in a region already fraught with geopolitical complexities. The move, announced Sunday, has drawn swift condemnation from Arab states and reignited debates over Israel's long-term intentions in the territory seized from Syria in the 1967 Six-Day War.
The decision comes as Israel capitalizes on what it sees as a pivotal moment following the toppling of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime earlier this month. Netanyahu described the initiative as vital for Israel's security and development, stating, "Strengthening the Golan Heights is strengthening the State of Israel, and it is especially important at this time."
The approved funds, approximately 40 million shekels, will support infrastructure projects, including education, renewable energy development, and the establishment of a student village. Currently, around 50,000 residents-split between Jewish settlers and the Druze minority-inhabit the Israeli-controlled portion of the Golan Heights. Netanyahu's office emphasized that the plan applies only to the portion annexed by Israel in 1981, a move recognized internationally only by the United States in 2019 under then-President Donald Trump.
The timing of the announcement has not gone unnoticed. Days earlier, Israeli forces entered a United Nations-patrolled buffer zone along the border following the fall of Damascus to rebel forces led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an al-Qaeda-linked group. Israel has justified its actions as defensive measures to prevent hostile elements from exploiting the power vacuum in Syria. Defense Minister Israel Katz indicated that Israeli forces would remain atop Mount Hermon through the winter, signaling a potential long-term presence.
Saudi Arabia issued one of the strongest rebukes to Israel's new settlement plan, labeling it "sabotage" against Syria's nascent transitional government. Riyadh's foreign ministry accused Israel of undermining stability in the region, while Qatar denounced the decision as a "blatant violation of international law."
The Golan Heights has long been a flashpoint in Israeli-Syrian relations. Seized during the Six-Day War, the territory was later annexed in a move widely rejected by the international community. The region's strategic importance, with its vantage points over northern Israel and proximity to Damascus, has made it a focal point of conflict and contention.
Critics argue that Israel is exploiting Syria's instability to cement its control over the Golan Heights. "Netanyahu is using this moment to announce more settlement activity in order to entrench that occupation and make it permanent," said Nour Odeh, reporting from Amman for Al Jazeera. This mirrors similar policies in the occupied West Bank, where Israeli settlements have been expanding despite widespread condemnation.
Netanyahu has maintained that Israel has no interest in escalating tensions with Syria, stating that military operations in the region aim solely to "thwart potential threats" and prevent weapons from falling into the hands of Hezbollah and other militant groups. However, his government's actions suggest a more calculated effort to solidify Israel's presence in contested territories.
Meanwhile, international responses have varied. European nations have yet to issue unified statements, while the United Nations remains focused on broader regional stability. Observers note that the incoming U.S. administration under President-elect Donald Trump could reshape the dynamics further, given Trump's previous recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights and his administration's unwavering support for Netanyahu's policies.
