While Syria is going through a major crisis, Israel is taking shock measures to strengthen its presence in the annexed Golan. A decision which provokes strong reactions in the Arab world…
While Syria is going through a major political crisis since the fall of Bashar al-Assad on December 8, Israel is seizing the opportunity to strengthen its presence in the part of the Golan Heights annexed by the Jewish state. A decision which provokes strong reactions in the Arab world.
A Project Unanimously Approved to Double the Population of the Annexed Golan
Last Sunday, the Israeli government “unanimously” approved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to double the population in the localities of the Golan annexed by Israel. An investment of 40 million shekels (approximately 10.6 million euros) is planned for “the demographic development of the localities of the Golan and the town of Katzrin, in light of the war and the new front in Syria”, according to a statement from Netanyahu’s office.
This is a decision that strengthens the localities of the Golan and the State of Israel.
– Press release from the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office
Currently, around 30,000 Israeli citizens live in 34 localities of the annexed Golan, to which are added 23,000 Druze, a community descended from Islam, most of whom claim to be Syrian while having the status of residents in Israel.
Israel Says It Does Not Want To Enter into Conflict With Syria
Despite this controversial decision, Benjamin Netanyahu stressed that Israel did not wish to enter into conflict with Syria. “We have no interest in confronting Syria, we will define Israel’s policy towards Syria based on the reality on the ground,” he said.
The Prime Minister also recalled the strategic importance of the Israeli presence on the Golan, a plateau which overlooks the Galilee Hills and Lake Galilee in northern Israel.
The Golan, a Territory Conquered and Annexed by Israel
As a reminder, Israel conquered part of the Golan, in southwest Syria, during the Arab-Israeli war of 1967, before annexing it in 1981. An annexation recognized only by the United States under the Trump administration in 2019.
Last week, Benjamin Netanyahu declared that the annexed Golan would be Israeli “for eternity”. A statement that sparked strong reactions in the Arab world.
Arab Condemnations and Takeover of the UN Buffer Zone
Saudi Arabia condemned the Israeli project, denouncing a “continued sabotage of opportunities to restore security and stability in Syria”. Qatar, for its part, deplored “a new episode in the series of Israeli aggressions on Syrian territories and a flagrant violation of international law”.
Just hours after the fall of Bashar al-Assad, Israel also took control of the buffer zone separating the two countries on the Golan Heights, an area until then monitored by the UN. The Israeli army also seized areas beyond this buffer zone, an action presented by Israel as a temporary and defensive measure but which sparked international condemnation.
Israel Prepares to “Remain” in the Buffer Zone
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered troops to “prepare to stay” in the buffer zone through the winter. According to Benjamin Netanyahu, this takeover aims to prevent Syria from attacking Israel or allowing others, notably Lebanese Hezbollah, to do so from its territory, as has happened in the past.
Since the flight of Bashar al-Assad, Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes on Syrian territory, targeting chemical weapons warehouses and the air defenses of the Syrian navy, in order to prevent the weapons from falling into the hands of the rebels, according to Israeli authorities.
An Explosive Geopolitical Context
Israel’s recent decisions regarding the Golan come in a particularly tense geopolitical context. The fall of Bashar al-Assad has plunged Syria into a major political crisis, raising fears of destabilization of the entire region.
Faced with this situation, Israel seems determined to strengthen its presence on the Golan, a strategic territory which allows it to control part of the border with Syria. But this offensive policy is causing serious tensions with neighboring Arab countries and risks further inflaming an already particularly complex conflict.
It remains to be seen how the situation will evolve in the coming months, as Syria attempts to rebuild after years of civil war and Israeli-Arab relations remain under high tension. One thing is certain: the Golan issue remains at the heart of the region’s geopolitical issues and will undoubtedly continue to be the subject of heated controversy in the years to come.
