Daijiworld Media Network – Jerusalem
Jerusalem, Jul 30: A fringe group of Israeli settlers has been making repeated attempts to enter southern Syria with the aim of establishing Jewish settlements in the region, raising concerns over security and regional tensions.
The issue came into focus after Israeli soldiers reportedly prepared to launch a nighttime strike on a group of men in southern Syria but held their fire after noticing the distinctive long curls worn by religious Jewish men. The group turned out to be Israeli civilians who had crossed into Syria and were returning.
The incident, first reported by Israel's public broadcaster and later confirmed by the Israeli military, has highlighted the activities of a small but increasingly active settler movement seeking a presence in Syrian territory.
The groups, numbering a few dozen members, have attempted to cross from Israel into Syria every few days in recent weeks. The Israeli military has been tasked with preventing such crossings, saying the actions divert troops from operational duties and create security risks.
The most prominent group involved is "Pioneers of Bashan", a right-wing organisation formed early last year that advocates establishing Jewish settlements in parts of southern Syria.
The group is named after the biblical region of Bashan, which includes parts of modern-day Syria and Jordan. Members claim a historical connection to the area and argue that Jewish settlements there would help protect Israel's control over the Golan Heights.
The group's focus is on southwestern Syria, including areas of Quneitra, Daraa and Sweida. Parts of the region, including Mount Hermon, fall within a buffer zone occupied by Israeli forces after the fall of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.
Supporters of the movement claim that establishing settlements would also protect the Druze community following deadly sectarian clashes between Druze groups, Sunni Bedouin tribes and Syrian security forces last year.
Azaria, a computer science professor at Ariel University and a supporter of the movement, said the group wants to establish a Jewish outpost near the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights.
However, Israeli authorities have repeatedly opposed the crossings. The military said civilians caught entering Syria are detained and handed over to police, urging law enforcement agencies to take action against those involved.
So far, the incursions have remained temporary, with the military removing activists before they can establish permanent structures.
Videos shared by the group showed confrontations between activists and Israeli soldiers, including instances where troops attempted to remove protesters from areas they had entered.
The group has claimed support from members of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, with its social media pages showing meetings with cabinet ministers Amihai Eliyahu and Shlomo Karhi.
Syrian authorities have not publicly commented on the attempts by Israeli settler groups to enter Syrian territory. Damascus has repeatedly condemned Israel's military presence in southern Syria and called for the withdrawal of Israeli forces.
Similar fringe settler movements have also emerged elsewhere, including along the Gaza border and in southern Lebanon, where groups have called for establishing Israeli settlements in those areas.
Observers have warned that such movements, despite their small size, should not be dismissed entirely, pointing to the history of settlement movements in the Israeli-occupied West Bank that began as small activist groups before expanding over time.