Israel Approves Plan to Double Population in Occupied Golan Heights

The Israeli government has announced significant investments to expand settlements in the Golan Heights, citing strategic and security concerns following recent developments in Syria.

• The Israeli cabinet unanimously approved a plan to double the population of the Golan Heights, currently home to over 50,000 people, including Jewish Israelis, Druse, and Alawites.
• Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized the strategic importance of the region, stating that strengthening the Golan Heights is crucial for Israel's security and development.
• The decision follows the recent collapse of the Syrian government, with Israel moving troops into the UN-monitored buffer zone established under the 1974 ceasefire agreement.
• Israel plans to invest over 10 million euros in the region, focusing on settlement expansion and infrastructure development.
• The Golan Heights, captured by Israel in 1967 and annexed in 1981, remains internationally recognized as Syrian territory, despite U.S. recognition of Israeli sovereignty under former President Donald Trump in 2019.

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