Turkey has strongly criticised Israel’s plan to double the population in the occupied Golan Heights, as per The Guardian, calling it a move to “expand its borders” and a threat to regional stability. This comes amid growing international concerns over Israel’s activities in Syria following the fall of the Assad regime.
The Golan Heights, captured by Israel during the 1967 Six-Day War, has been under Israeli control for decades.
Last week, Israeli troops moved into a demilitarized buffer zone in the area, further escalating tensions. While Israel claims these are temporary measures, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced plans to expand settlements in the region, saying, “Strengthening the Golan Heights is strengthening the state of Israel.”
In a statement, Turkey’s foreign ministry condemned the move, describing it as a violation of the 1974 disengagement agreement and an obstacle to Syrian stability. “This decision is a new stage in Israel’s goal of expanding its borders through occupation,” the statement read.
Israeli tanks park on the buffer zone after the Quneitra crossing, between Israel and Syria, are viewed from the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights. (AP photo)
Germany also criticized Israel’s actions, reported The Guardian, emphasizing that under international law, the Golan Heights is Syrian territory. A German foreign ministry spokesperson called on Israel to abandon the plan, stressing the need to respect Syria’s territorial integrity during its political upheaval.
Egypt joined in condemning the expansion, calling it a blatant violation of Syrian sovereignty.
The Golan Heights, annexed by Israel in 1981, is home to around 50,000 residents, divided between Jewish settlers and the Druze, an Arabic-speaking ethno-religious minority. While the Trump administration recognized Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights in 2019, most countries still consider it occupied Syrian territory.
Meanwhile, Israel has continued airstrikes in Syria, targeting military assets and missile warehouses. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights described recent attacks along Syria’s coast as the most intense since Israeli strikes began in 2012.
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