Israel approved a plan to double the population of the occupied Golan Heights on December 15, while warning of threats in the area despite the moderate stance of the opposition in Syria.
The Israeli government has invested about $11 million in a plan to promote population growth in the Golan Heights, according to information from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that fortifying the Golan Heights is an important goal because it makes Israel more secure. The Jewish state affirmed that it will continue to maintain its army, while developing and settling in the area.
Israel took control of much of the Golan Heights after the Six-Day War with Syria in 1967 and annexed it in 1981. Prior to that, the area was part of Syrian territory.
The annexation is not recognized by many countries, although in 2019, US President Donald Trump expressed support for Israel's move during his first term as president.
On December 12, many countries and the United Nations strongly condemned Israel's military presence in the Golan Heights, calling for respect for Syria's sovereignty and considering it a violation of international agreements.
Mr. Netanyahu said that Israel has no intention of exploiting the conflict with Syria and that the move to maintain the army is only to ensure the safety of the border area from threats from terrorists.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz explained that although opposition leaders in Syria have expressed a moderate stance, recent complicated developments in Syria have forced Israel to raise its vigilance.
According to analyst Avraham Levine from the Alma Research and Education Center, there are currently about 31,000 Israeli settlers in the Golan Heights. Of these, about 24,000 are ethnic Druze, the rest are Arab ethnic groups, but most of them identify themselves as Syrian.
