File image.
Dozens of Israeli settler activists stormed southern Syria on April 22 before being escorted out by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) amid complete silence from Damascus.
The activists, who called themselves the Bashan Pioneers, barricaded themselves in a building on the outskirts of the town of Hader in the governorate of al-Qunitra, and stated that they would stay there until the Israeli government approves settlements in Syria.
According to the IDF, some 40 activists traveled about half a kilometer inside Syria. Troops then took the activists back to Israel and handed them over to the police.
The military added it “strongly condemns this incident and emphasizes its severity, which constitutes a criminal offense that endangers civilians and IDF troops.”
Hader is mainly populated by Druze. The town has been under the de facto control of the IDF since the fall of the regime of former president Bashar al-Assad more than a year ago.
The IDF occupied the entire buffer zone adjacent to the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights in al-Qunitra shortly after the collapse of the regime, and has been conducting operations in the area, including setting up checkpoints and arresting people, on a regular basis.
The Bashan Pioneers, a far-right, religious-nationalist Israeli settler movement, was formed last year. It seeks to establish Jewish settlements in southern Syria. The group advocates for the annexation of the region, which they refer to by the biblical name “Bashan” as a part of wider plan to establish “Greater Israel”.
Activists from the movement stormed Syria on many occasions over the past year, with the IDF escorting them out every time.
The Syrian government has repeatedly condemned the Israeli occupation of the buffer zone in al-Qunitra, but it has taken no actual measures against it.
Over the past year, several rounds of talks between Israel and Syria were held, with the United States leading mediation efforts.
The talks failed to produce a security agreement. Still, the Syrian government continues to honor the red lines set by Israel when it comes to the southern region. For example, its forces do not challenge IDF movements, or attempt to deploy any heavy weapons there.
In fact, Syrian government forces are preventing anyone from challenging the IDF. Just earlier in the week, the forces foiled an attempt by a cell allegedly linked to Lebanon’s Hezbollah to launch rockets from al-Qunitra.
There is no doubt that Israel’s influence over southern Syria is growing by the day, and while movements like the Bashan Pioneers are now not being taken seriously, their project is a very serious one. Settlement movements had major success in the Golan Heights, which is now recognized by the U.S. as a part of Israel.
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it’s about time. our foresight and investments are beginning to bear fruit. we will rule the world. hehehe.
project greater israel. for a first world power against third world insurgents it’s taking an inextricable long time. what’s the delay? it’s reminiscent of the old german ost dreaming. facts on the ground curtail the land grab.
a bunch of pig tailed ziomonkeys play tough. no weapons but plenty of extra adult diapers in their backpacks.
i like that match up. sociopathic racist settlers vs hezbollah militias. israel is about to find out its status as expendable. no sane nation in the world will trade with or supply it.
i have a saying: “the only way to get a fair deal is to not deal”. i think that’s where things are heading with israel. plus also the enormous headache of negotiating with such people – it’s just not worth the time and effort, look elsewhere.