There are more than 30 Israeli settlements in the Golan Heights, in which about 20,000 people live. They are considered illegal under international law, which Israel disputes.
The settlers live alongside about 20,000 Syrians, most of whom are Druze Arabs who did not flee when the area came under Israeli control.
Netanyahu said Israel would “continue to hold (the territory), promote its prosperity and settle it.”
The announcement came a day after Syria’s new de facto leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, criticized Israel for its ongoing strikes on military targets in the country, which have reportedly targeted military targets.
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) has documented more than 450 Israeli airstrikes in Syria since December 8, including 75 since Saturday evening.
Al-Sharaa – also known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani – said the strikes “crossed red lines” and threatened to escalate tensions in the region, although he said Syria was not seeking conflict with any neighboring state.
Speaking to Syrian TV, which was considered pro-opposition during the civil war, al-Sharaa said the country’s “war-weary situation after years of conflict and war does not allow for new confrontations,” according to Reuters.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) did not comment on his remarks, but previously said the strikes were necessary to stop weapons falling “into the hands of extremists.”
