Several Arab nations have strongly condemned Israel's recent announcement of a $11 million plan to double the population of the occupied Golan Heights. The move is seen as a blatant violation of international law and a direct threat to Syrian sovereignty.
Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iraq, and the United Arab Emirates have all issued statements expressing their deep concern over Israel's expansionist ambitions. The Saudi Foreign Ministry described the plan as undermining Syria's prospects for peace and stability, while Qatar's Foreign Ministry condemned it as a "new episode in a series of Israeli attacks on Syrian territories."
Iraq's Foreign Ministry also denounced the expansion as a "blatant violation" of international law and relevant UN resolutions. The UAE, meanwhile, warned that Israel's actions could escalate regional tensions.
Israel illegally occupied the Golan Heights in 1967 and annexed it in 1981. The international community has never recognized Israel's claim to the territory.
The recent Israeli announcement comes as Syria continues to grapple with a decade-long civil war. Israel has taken advantage of the conflict to expand its settlements in the occupied Golan Heights and launch frequent airstrikes against targets within Syria.
