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Environmentalists oppose Israeli plan to double Golan Heights population

Nature protection groups are opposing the recent plan by the government to build more villages and add to the population on the Golan Heights.
This picture shows a general view of the village of Majdal Shams in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, on Dec. 28, 2021.

Some dramatic declarations emerged from the special Cabinet meeting Dec. 26 at Kibbutz Mevo Hama in the Golan Heights. The meeting opened with a statement by Prime Minister Naftali Bennett: “This is our moment. This is the moment for the Golan Heights. A combination of circumstances has led us today to a dramatic government decision to channel considerable resources, around NIS 1 billion, to strengthening communities on the Golan Heights.”

Bennett was of course well aware that the international community, considering the Golan Heights occupied territory, would not welcome this plan with open arms. Thus, he tried to overcome the diplomatic obstacle by citing American support for Israel’s control of the region, with the Trump administration recognizing Israel sovereignty and the Biden administration not retracting from this policy.

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