Mon Dec 16 12:10:27 UTC 2024: ## Turkey Condemns Israel’s Plan to Double Golan Heights Population
**Ankara, December 16, 2024** – Turkey has strongly condemned Israel’s plan to double the population of the occupied Golan Heights, calling it a blatant attempt to expand its borders. The Israeli government approved the plan on Sunday, a move that follows recent Israeli military incursions into a UN-monitored buffer zone bordering Syria.
The Turkish foreign ministry released a statement denouncing the decision, characterizing it as a “new stage in Israel’s goal of expanding its borders through occupation.” The statement expressed grave concern over the combined actions of Israel’s entry into the separation zone, in violation of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement, its further advances into Syrian territory, and airstrikes within Syria. Turkey warned that these actions seriously jeopardize efforts to stabilize Syria following the ongoing conflict.
Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar defended the population increase plan as a temporary measure implemented for security reasons. However, the Golan Heights, a plateau captured by Israel during the 1967 Six-Day War and subsequently annexed, remains a highly contested territory. Its annexation by Israel is not internationally recognized. The latest Israeli actions have further escalated tensions in the already volatile region.
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