Israeli PM Netanyahu's Office in a Statement Said that the Government Had Unanimously Approved the 40 Million Shekel USD11 million Plan for the Demographic Development of the Golan

Israel on Sunday (Dec 15) approved a plan to "double" the population of the annexed Golan Heights.

This comes as the country insists that it had no intention of confronting Syria after Israeli forces, acting on the orders of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, seized a UN-patrolled buffer zone in the wake of the ouster of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad by Islamist rebels.

The Israeli government, as per reports, has approved 40 million shekel ($11 million) for the expansion plan in Golan Heights.

Netanyahu defends population expansion plan

Israeli PM Netanyahu's office in a statement said that the government had "unanimously approved" the 40 million shekel ($11 million) plan "for the demographic development of the Golan in light of the war and the new front in Syria and the desire to double the population".

Netanyahu called the plan "particularly important at this time" and said, "the strengthening of the Golan is that of the State of Israel."

"We will continue to establish ourselves there, develop it and settle there," he added.

Saudi, Qatar condemn Israel's Golan Heights plan

Saudi Arabia and Qatar have opposed the plan. Expressing "condemnation and denunciation" of the plan, Saudi foreign ministry called it part of the "continued sabotage of opportunities to restore security and stability in Syria".

Qatar said this was a "new episode in a series of Israeli aggressions on Syrian territories and a blatant violation of international law".

With its strategic significance, the Golan Heights has long been a point of contention.

Israel captured the territory during the 1967 war and annexed it in 1981.

While most of the world considers it Syrian territory, the US broke ranks in 2019 by formally recognising Israel's sovereignty over the area under then-president Donald Trump.

Sunday's move follows previous efforts to expand the settler population.

In 2021, a $317 million initiative was approved to double the number of Israelis living in the Golan within five years, though its implementation has been gradual.

Saudi Arabia slammed the new plan Sunday as “sabotage” against Syria.

In a statement, Riyadh’s foreign ministry expressed “condemnation and denunciation” of the plan, which it called part of a “continued sabotage of opportunities to restore security and stability in Syria” after Islamist-led rebels overthrew president Bashar al-Assad earlier this month.

Qatar asserted that the Israeli declaration was a “new episode in a series of Israeli aggressions on Syrian territories and a blatant violation of international law.”

The United Arab Emirates claimed the effort “threatens further escalation and tensions in the region.”

“This decision is a deliberate effort to expand the occupation and is in violation and contravention of international law,” the UAE foreign ministry said.

Last week, Israel launched a major operation to destroy the Syrian military’s strategic military capabilities, including chemical weapons sites, missiles, air defenses, air force and navy targets, in a bid to prevent them from falling into the hands of hostile elements who could use them against the Jewish state or hand them to Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Israel also entered a United Nations-patrolled buffer zone along the border just hours after the rebels, led by an al-Qaeda-linked jihadist group, took Damascus.

While the move has drawn some international condemnation, Israel has defended it as necessary to prevent hostile elements from utilizing the current vacuum of power.

It has said it will not become involved in the internal conflict in Syria and that its seizure of the demilitarized zone established in 1974 was a defensive move and a temporary one until it can guarantee security along the frontier.

Defense Minister Israel Katz said Friday that he had ordered the military to prepare to stay atop the Syrian side of Mount Hermon during the coming winter months as Israel aims to prevent the border region from falling into the wrong hands.