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<a class="gmail-domain gmail-reader-domain" href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/israeli-gov--approves-plan-to-expand-settlements-in-occupied">english.almayadeen.net</a>
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<h1 class="gmail-reader-title">Israeli gov. approves plan to expand settlements in occupied Golan</h1>
<div class="gmail-credits gmail-reader-credits">Al Mayadeen English</div>
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<div class="gmail-reader-estimated-time">December 15, 2024<br></div>
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<div class="gmail-moz-reader-content gmail-reader-show-element"><div id="gmail-readability-page-1" class="gmail-page"><p>Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in Syria reports that Israeli forces are expanding their occupation in the countryside of Quneitra.</p><img src="cid:ii_m4ptto2z0" alt="b48556d8-2ad1-4052-8149-ab2ef66741f7.jpg" width="470" height="313"><br><div><ul id="gmail-content-slick-0"><div aria-hidden="false"><li>
An Israeli army vehicle drives in the UN-patrolled buffer
zone, which separates Israeli and Syrian forces on the Golan Heights,
near the village of Majdal Shams in the Israel-occupied Golan Heights on
December 15, 2024 <em>(AFP)</em>
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<p>The Israeli government announced Sunday its decision to advance
settlement expansion in the occupied Syria Golan Heights, citing "the
war and the new front facing Syria," as well as a goal to double the
Israeli population in the region as a reason.</p>
<p>"Strengthening the Golan is strengthening the State of Israel, and it
is especially important at this time. We will continue to hold onto it,
cause it to blossom, and settle in it," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu stated.</p>
<p><strong>Al Mayadeen</strong>’s correspondent in Syria reported that
Israeli forces are expanding their occupation in the countryside of
Quneitra and have entered a new village, adding that they are advancing
toward taking control of the town of el-Maalgah in southern Syria.</p>
<p>Our correspondent also noted that the Israeli occupation military has
seized control of the most important freshwater sources in southern
Syria, located in the al-Yarmouk Basin.</p>
<p>Additionally, our correspondent stated that Israeli forces are now 15
kilometers away from the international highway linking Damascus and
Beirut.</p>
<p>According to <strong>Al Mayadeen</strong>'s correspondent, Israeli
drones are flying at low altitudes over the al-Yarmouk Basin in western
Daraa, broadcasting messages to the elders of the village of Koayiah,
calling for meetings with the Israeli military to reach agreements.</p>
<p>He added that the Israeli occupation military seeks further incursions into western Daraa, aiming to occupy Koayiah.</p>
<p>On its part, the <em>Anadolu Agency </em>reported that the Israeli
military has occupied three new villages in southern Syria: Jamlah in
Daraa Governorate and Mazraat Beit Jinn and Mughr al-meer in the
Damascus countryside.</p>
<p>Moreover, the Israeli <em>Channel 12</em> reported that the Israeli
government unanimously approved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plan
to encourage demographic growth in the Golan Heights and Katzrin.</p>
<p>"The immediate risks to the country have not disappeared and the
latest developments in Syria increase the strength of the threat -
despite the moderate image that the rebel leaders claim to present,"
Israeli Security Minister Israel Katz said during discussions on
Israel's defense budget, according to a statement.</p>
<p>Last week, Netanyahu claimed that the occupied Syrian Golan Heights is <a href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/netanyahu-says-occupied-syrian-golan-heights-israeli--for-et">Israeli "for eternity"</a>.</p>
<p>Speaking in occupied al-Quds, he underscored that Israeli occupation
forces' control of the high ground "ensures our security and
sovereignty."</p>
<p>"Israel's" actions are considered "a violation" of the 1974
"disengagement agreement" between "Israel" and Syria according to both
the United Nations and all countries neighboring occupied Palestine.</p>
<p>But Ahmad al-Sharaa, the head of the new Syrian administration, said the body has "<a href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/we-are-not-looking-to-engage-in-conflict-with--israel---al-s">no intention of confronting Israel</a>."</p>
<p>"We are not looking to engage in a conflict with Israel and cannot
bear such a battle," indicated al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammad
al-Jolani, who is also the leader of the Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)
group that managed, as part of an alliance, to capture most of the
Syrian territory and lead to the ousting of Syrian President Bashar
al-Assad last week.</p>
<h2>'Israel' completely destroyed Syria’s air defense systems</h2>
<p>"Israel", which describes its incursion into Syrian territory as a
limited and temporary action aimed at ensuring border security, has
conducted hundreds of airstrikes targeting strategic weapons stockpiles
in Syria. </p>
<p>The Israeli occupation government has claimed that these operations
aim to destroy strategic weapons and military infrastructure to prevent
their use by groups that ousted al-Assad.</p>
<p>In a related context, <strong>Al Mayadeen</strong>’s correspondent said that the Israeli occupation military has <a href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/iof-completely-destroyed-air-defense-systems-in-syria--exclu">completely destroyed Syria’s air defense systems</a>, pointing out that "Israel" is not only targeting strategic weapons depots in Syria but also medium-level ones.</p>
<p>On Sunday morning, the Israeli military announced that its recent
attacks had caused "severe damage" to Syria's air defense system,
claiming that "over 90% of strategic surface-to-air missiles" had been
destroyed.</p>
<p><em>Sputnik</em> also cited sources as saying that approximately 52
Israeli airstrikes were carried out on Syria between Saturday night and
early Sunday morning, with loud explosions reported across various
Syrian provinces.</p>
<p>In detail, Israeli reconnaissance aircraft are daily monitoring
Syrian military sites across the country, followed by airstrikes
targeting those sites to destroy weapons, ammunition, and military
equipment.</p>
<p><strong>Read more: <a href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/foreign-powers-seek-to-divide-syria--irgc-chief">Foreign powers seek to divide Syria: IRGC Chief</a></strong></p></div></div></div>
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