Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's regime has unanimously approved a plan to “promote demographic growth” in the occupied Syrian Golan Heights following the fall of the Syrian president.
The plan comes in light of the developments in Syria and aims to double the population of Israelis living in the occupied Syrian areas, according to a statement by the prime minister’s office on Sunday.
The plan, which received 40 million shekels (over $11m) in funding, strengthens the Israeli settlements, including Katzrin in the occupied Golan Heights.
"Strengthening the Golan is strengthening Israel, and it is especially important at this time. We will continue to hold onto it, make it flourish, and settle it," the Israeli statement read.
The Israeli army occupied the Syrian Golan Heights during the 1967 Six-Day War. Israel refused to withdraw its forces or return the territory amid demands by the UN Security Council Resolution 242.