Israel announced plans to expand settlements in the Golan Heights, a region it captured during the 1967 Six-Day War and continues to control despite international objections. The decision follows recent developments in Syria, where the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime has altered the region's political dynamics.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized the importance of the initiative, citing security concerns due to the emergence of a “new front” on Israel’s border with Syria after Assad was ousted by a coalition of Islamist-led rebel factions. Netanyahu announced his government’s aim to double the population in the Golan Heights, which is home to approximately 30 Israeli settlements.
Netanyahu said that Israel’s policy towards Syria would be guided by evolving ground realities but clarified, “We have no interest in a conflict with Syria.” Israeli forces recently moved into a buffer zone separating the Golan Heights from Syria, stating that the fall of the Assad regime rendered previous ceasefire agreements obsolete.
The Golan Heights currently hosts around 20,000 Israeli settlers alongside a similar number of Syrians, predominantly Druze Arabs who remained after Israel seized control of the territory. Netanyahu reiterated Israel's commitment to maintaining and developing the area, stating, “We will continue to hold on to [the territory], make it flourish, and settle it.”
Regional and International Reactions While Netanyahu’s announcement signals a strong domestic stance, some figures have voiced opposition. Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert questioned the decision, arguing that expansion risks further instability. “If we are not interested in escalating tensions, why do the opposite?” Olmert remarked.
Meanwhile, Syria’s new de facto leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, condemned Israel’s ongoing airstrikes, which he claimed “crossed red lines.” According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), Israel has conducted over 450 airstrikes in Syria since December 8, targeting military facilities and preventing arms from reaching extremist groups.
Al-Sharaa, now leading efforts to form a transitional government, stated that Syria is not seeking conflict despite the strained relations. Speaking to a local TV channel, he remarked that the nation’s “war-weary condition” does not allow for fresh confrontations.
The United Nations' Syria envoy, Geir Pedersen, expressed hope for a swift lifting of sanctions on Syria to support economic recovery and stabilization efforts.
Turkey and the United States Extend Their Influence Turkey’s Defense Minister, Yasar Guler, signaled Ankara’s readiness to assist Syria’s transitional government, urging the international community to give the new leadership a chance. Simultaneously, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed direct communication with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the faction that played a central role in toppling Assad.
Meanwhile, the United States has initiated direct communication with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a group central to Syria's current power transition. While HTS remains classified as a terrorist organization by the U.S. and other Western nations, its pivotal role in shaping Syria’s future governance cannot be ignored. This development underscores the complexities of international diplomacy in a region where alliances and designations often shift based on evolving realities.
As regional tensions simmer, the global community watches closely, with many concerned that further actions in the Golan Heights could heighten instability in an already volatile region.