Israeli settler group steps up incursions into southern Syria in push for Jewish settlements

An Israeli settler group seeking to establish Jewish settlements in southern Syria has stepped up cross-border incursions in recent weeks, prompting repeated interventions by the Israeli military, which says the activists are disrupting security operations.

The latest incident occurred during a planned Israeli military strike in southern Syria, when troops preparing to target a group of suspected militants realised the individuals were Israeli settlers returning from Syria after noticing their distinctive religious attire. The strike was aborted, according to the Israeli military.

The incident, first reported by Israel's public broadcaster and confirmed by the military, has drawn renewed attention to a fringe movement advocating Jewish settlement inside Syrian territory.

Israel has maintained a military presence in parts of southern Syria for more than a year, but civilian attempts to cross into the area have become increasingly frequent only in recent weeks.

Military officials say dozens of activists have attempted to cross the border every few days. While the groups remain on the political fringe, the broader Israeli settlement movement enjoys support from members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's far-right coalition.

The most prominent group behind the incursions is Pioneers of Bashan, formed early last year to promote Jewish settlement in parts of southwestern Syria, including Quneitra, Daraa and Sweida provinces.

The group takes its name from the biblical region of Bashan, which covered parts of present-day Syria and Jordan. Members argue that the area historically belongs to the Jewish people and say permanent settlements there would strengthen Israel's security along the Golan Heights, which Israel captured from Syria in the 1967 Middle East war and later annexed, a move not recognised by most of the international community.

Some members also claim Jewish settlements would help protect Syria's Druze minority following sectarian violence last year that killed hundreds of civilians, most of them Druze.

Amos Azaria, one of the group's leaders and a computer science professor at Ariel University in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, said the organisation wants to establish a "humanitarian corridor" linking Israel to the Druze-majority city of Sweida.

He said neighbouring Sunni-majority areas should be cleared and replaced with Jewish settlements.

The group's immediate objective is to establish a Jewish outpost near the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights inside southern Syria. Such outposts are often created by settlers in the hope that they will eventually receive official government recognition.

So far, Israeli security forces have prevented the activists from establishing any permanent presence.

Videos posted by the group on social media show Israeli soldiers removing activists attempting to remain inside Syrian territory. One clip shows troops separating demonstrators who had linked arms, while another shows activists being detained with their hands tied.

The Israeli military has repeatedly criticised the incursions, saying they divert troops from operational duties and undermine military security.

It said civilians caught crossing the border are detained and handed over to police, adding that it expects law enforcement authorities to prosecute those involved.

Israeli media reported that no indictments have yet been filed.

The activists say they enjoy support from members of Netanyahu's government. According to the group, it has met cabinet ministers Amihai Eliyahu and Shlomo Karhi, while leader Amos Azaria claimed the movement has backing from several ministers and lawmakers.

Syrian authorities have not commented directly on the settlers' incursions but have repeatedly condemned Israel's military presence in southern Syria and called for the withdrawal of Israeli forces.

Israeli troops have continued operations beyond the buffer zone, occasionally clashing with local residents who have attempted to block military movements.

Lebanon has also seen similar activity by another fringe Israeli settler group, Uri Tzafon, which advocates Jewish settlement in southern Lebanon.

Although Lebanese authorities have largely focused on demanding the withdrawal of Israeli troops, Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri warned against dismissing such groups, noting that Israel's settlement movement in the occupied West Bank also began as a small religious activist movement before expanding significantly.