Golan Heights

Sheikh Hikmat Salman al-Hijri is pictured at Qanawat, the headquarters of the Druze spiritual presidency, on Dec. 28, 2024, in Suwayda, Syria.

Syria Druze leader Hijri calls for independent entity, says country ‘heading toward partition’

Controversial Druze spiritual leader Hikmat al-Hijri, in Syria’s southern province of Suwayda, praised Israel as the only party he said intervened to stop the killing of Druze during a wave of unrest last summer.

Israel military vehicles drive along the border fence into Israel, near the town of Majdal Shams, in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, on July 17, 2025. Syrian government forces have withdrawn from the whole of Sweida province after days of sectarian bloodshed in the heartland of the Druze minority, a war monitor and witnesses said July 17, 2025. (Photo by Jalaa MAREY / AFP) (Photo by JALAA MAREY/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

What Syria and Israel’s new communications cell really signals

The deal reached in Paris under US mediation reflects a rare step toward managing tensions but stops short of halting Israeli military strikes or producing a broader security pact.

Rina Bassist

By Rosaleen Carroll , Rina Bassist

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 23: President of Syria Ahmed al-Shara arrives for the 80th session of the UN’s General Assembly (UNGA) at UN Headquarters on September 23, 2025 in New York City. This year’s theme for the annual global meeting is:“Better together: 80 years and more for peace, development and human rights.” Gaza and Ukraine are just two of the global emergencies that world leaders will look to address. (Photo by Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images)

Analysis

As Trump hosts Sharaa, Israel cautiously seeks Syria security deal

Despite optimism in September, Israel and Syria still have not finalized an American-mediated security agreement.

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - OCTOBER 26: U.S. President Donald Trump holds a bilateral meeting with Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (not in frame) at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre on October 26, 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Trump is in Malaysia for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, and will next travel to Japan, en route to South Korea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Analysis

Trump pursues Israeli-Syrian security pact with Sharaa, larger US military footprint

Israelis welcome the US effort but fear losing decision-making power and the ability to protect their interests as the US troop presence in the region looks set to further expand.

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

Latest News

Analysis

Seeking leeway on Gaza, Netanyahu backs Trump’s Syria pact push

Israeli troops patrol the border fence with Syria near the Druze village of Majdal Shams in the Israel-annexed Golan Heights, July 23, 2025.

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

Analysis

Will Israel’s potential Syria security deal intensify its rivalry with Turkey?

Israel military vehicles drive along the border fence into Israel, near the town of Majdal Shams, in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, July 17, 2025.

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

Analysis

Will Israel seize opportunity for rapprochement with Syria?

STEPHANIE LECOCQ/AFP via Getty Images

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

Analysis

Israel-Syria peace push mulls US troops by Golan, ‘reformulating’ armistice agreement

BAKR ALKASEM/AFP via Getty Images

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

The Israeli government poses following the Dec. 26 weekly Cabinet meeting, which took place at Kibbutz Mevo Hama in the Golan Heights.

Israel plans to double Golan Heights population

Relocating its weekly meeting to the Golan Heights Kibbutz Mevo Hama, the government approved a 1 billion-shekel plan for the development of the region.

A picture taken on April 23, 2019, shows a general view of the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, which Israel seized from Syria in the 1967 Six-Day War.

Israel’s Bennett strives to increase Jewish population in Golan Heights

Trying to appeal to his right-wing electoral base, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett advances plans for increased Jewish settlement in the Golan Heights.

JALAA MAREY/AFP via Getty Images

Bennet outlines plan to settle more Israelis in Golan Heights

At a conference on developing the Golan Heights, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said he plans to greatly increase the number of Israeli residents of the contested region.

Trump Heights Golan Heights

State Department says no change in US recognition of Israel's claim to Golan Heights

The Washington Free Beacon reported that the Biden administration would be “walking back” President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize the Golan Heights as Israeli.

Antony Blinken

Syria rejects US secretary of state's comments on Golan Heights

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told a House of Representatives committee Monday that Israel "has control" over the territory.

Memebers of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) stand near an old Israeli tank as they look toward the Syrian governorate of Quneitra from the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, on February 4, 2021. (Photo by JALAA MAREY / AFP) (Photo by JALAA MAREY/AFP via Getty Images)

Golan 'forever' part of Israel, Netanyahu says after Blinken comments

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken appeared to question the previous administration's controversial decision to recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu applauds as he and U.S. President Donald Trump deliver joint remarks on a Middle East peace plan proposal in the East Room of the White House in Washington, U.S., January 28, 2020. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts? - RC26PE9IWG1Q

Trump’s endorsement crucial for Netanyahu’s annexation plan

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu knows that he cannot go ahead with annexation without the endorsement of US President Donald Trump.

Israel’s government approves funding for Trump Heights settlement

One year after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the establishment of Trump Heights settlement in the Golan Heights, the Cabinet approves an initial construction budget.

Israeli soldiers stand next to shells and a mobile artillery unit near the Israeli side of the border with Syria in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights August 26, 2019. REUTERS/Amir Cohen - RC1C67173F10

As Israel’s anti-Iran strategy shifts into higher gear, worries of fresh conflict grow

Israel's escalated campaign to contain Iran and its Hezbollah allies has provoked fear that a new conflict may erupt among neighbors.

Israeli wind farm project unites Jewish settlers, Golan Druze

In the Golan Heights, Israeli settlers and Druze have joined forces to oppose a wind farm project.

A supporter of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party waves flags, one bearing the name of U.S. President Donald Trump, as the crowd reacts to exit polls in Israel's parliamentary election at the party headquarters in Tel Aviv, Israel April 10, 2019. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun - RC12929E4A50

Netanyahu’s call to annex West Bank inspired by Trump support

Palestinian and international experts and politicians are convinced that the extraordinary statements made by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about annexing all settlements come from the realization that he has support from US President Donald Trump for his radical call.

A general view shows the village of Ein Qiniyye in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights March 26, 2019. REUTERS/Ammar Awad - RC1E3CB87260

Trump paves way for Israel to expand settlements in Golan

Shortly after US President Donald Trump decided to recognize Israeli sovereignty over the occupied Golan Heights, Israel announced a plan to build 30,000 new housing units for settlers in the area.