'Expel the Sunni and Shia': Settler project for 'Greater Israel' sets its sights on Syria

What Happened

In mid-May, members of the Israeli settler group Halutzei HaBashan (Pioneers of Bashan) conducted a cross-border incursion into southern Syria near the town of Majdal Shams. At least ten individuals crossed the 1974 ceasefire line from the occupied Golan Heights, while others chained themselves to the border barrier to demand the establishment of Jewish settlements in Syrian territory. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that soldiers apprehended the civilians and transferred them to Israeli police custody. This incident follows a broader trend of expansionist activity in the region, which has seen increased coordination between settler activists and some members of the Israeli parliament.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The activities of Halutzei HaBashan represent a shift from fringe activism to a more coordinated movement seeking to formalise Israeli control over territory beyond the 1974 ceasefire line. By framing southern Syria as a biblical inheritance and a strategic security buffer, the group challenges established international borders and complicates the post-2024 political landscape in Syria. The movement's explicit calls for the expulsion of local populations and its growing political support within Israel signal a potential for increased friction along the Syrian-Israeli border.

Watch For

Monitor for further incursions by Halutzei HaBashan or affiliated groups like Uri Tzafon, as well as any legislative or administrative moves by the Israeli government to facilitate settlement infrastructure in the area. Additionally, observe the response from the Syrian government under President Ahmad al-Sharaa regarding these territorial violations and the potential for increased military deployments along the Golan Heights border.