Over 40 Israeli settlers crossed the border into Syria Wednesday, aiming to establish a Jewish settlement before being detained by the Israeli army.
Israeli Settlers Enter Syria
Israeli settlers infiltrated Syrian territory, intending to found a Jewish settlement, according to the military and police reports released Wednesday.
More than 40 settlers breached the border fence and entered Syria to establish a foothold for a Jewish settlement. The group was turned back to Israel by the army and subsequently arrested.
‘Bashan Pioneers’ Claim Responsibility
Activists affiliated with the far-right group, Bashan Pioneers, stated they barricaded themselves in a building on the outskirts of the Syrian city of Hader and vowed to remain until the Israeli government approves settlement in the area.
Footage shows the activists dancing and singing on the roof of the building. In a private WhatsApp group, they stated the action aimed to establish a settlement in the region, according to the “Haarec” newspaper.
Previous Attempts at Establishing Footholds
This is not the first time Bashan Pioneers have attempted to create a foothold on the Syrian side of the Golan Heights. Similar attempts to cross the border fence and enter Syria to settle occurred in November 2025 and February 2026.
The Ideology of Bashan Pioneers
The group’s name originates from the biblical region located in present-day southern Syria, which, according to the Bible, was allocated to one of the 12 tribes of Israel.
Legal Consequences of Border Crossing
Police warned that crossing the border with Syria or Lebanon is a crime punishable by up to four years in prison.
Understanding Israeli Settlers
Settlers are Israeli citizens residing on Palestinian lands in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem. Some relocate due to lower living costs and financial incentives offered by the government, while others cite the biblical covenant between God and the Israelites as justification for territorial claims.
Settlements and Footholds: A Legal Overview
Over 700,000 settlers currently live in 150 settlements and 128 footholds located in the occupied West Bank and annexed East Jerusalem (1980). Most settlements were built on private Palestinian land, in whole or in part.
Settlements are approved by the Israeli government, while footholds are established without its consent. Footholds can vary in size, from small structures inhabited by a few people to communities of several hundred residents.
Expansionist Ideologies and Political Support
A small segment of settlers actively seeks to establish settlements also in the territories of Lebanon and Syria.
Politicians from religious-Zionist parties—whose electorate largely consists of settlers—sometimes discuss expanding Israeli territory to include additional lands considered, according to Zionist interpretation, promised in the Bible, potentially including lands from the Nile to the Euphrates. These parties received approximately 11% of the vote in recent elections.