Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said Sunday the country intends to double the amount of settlers living in the Golan Heights with a multimillion-dollar plan meant to further consolidate Israel's hold on the territory it captured from Syria more than five decades ago.
Speaking at a special cabinet session being held in the Golan Heights, Bennett said the recognition by the Trump administration of Israeli sovereignty over the swath of land, and the Biden administration's indication that it will not at this point walk that decision back, prompted the new investment in the region.
"This is our moment. This is the moment of the Golan Heights," Bennett said. "After long and static years in terms of the scope of settlement, our goal today is to double settlement in the Golan Heights."