Israel has approved plans to double its Israel population within the occupied Golan Heights.
The ABC reports that Benjamin Netanyahu has used the fall of the Assad regime last week to increase its settler presence within the area.
“Strengthening the Golan is strengthening the state of Israel, and it is especially important at this time,” the Israeli prime minister said in a statement on Sunday.
“We will continue to hold onto it, cause it to blossom, and settle in it.”
The Israeli government has approved 40 million shekels ($17.4 million) for demographic growth in the area, with Mr Netanyahu’s office declaring Syria as ‘an active enemy state.’
Stay up-to-date on the latest news with The National Briefing – keeping you in the loop with news as it hits:
Netanyahu submitted the plan to the government “in light of the war and the new front facing Syria, and out of desire to double the population of the Golan”.
The International Court of Justice considers Israeli settlements in the Golan Heights to be illegal. Both Israel and the United States reject this position.
The Golan Heights came under Israel control during the Six Day War in 1967, before it was unilaterally annexed in 1981.
According to the ABC, over 20,000 Israeli settlers live in the occupied Golan Heights, alongside the largely Syrian-identifying Druze community.
Subscribe to The Briefing, Australia’s fastest-growing news podcast on Listnr today. The Briefing serves up the latest news headlines and a deep dive into a topic affecting you. All in under 20 minutes.