Israel cancels decision to allow Syrian Druze workers to work in the Golan Heights
The Israeli Broadcasting Authority reported that Israeli authorities abruptly reversed its decision to allow workers from Druze villages in southwestern Syria to enter Israel, despite preparations made to facilitate their arrival.
According to the commission, this decision came about a month after Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced a plan to bring dozens of Druze workers from Syria to work in the agricultural and construction sectors inside Israel.
Katz stated that the move aims to protect members of the Druze community in Syria and strengthen ties with communities near the border, for what he described as humanitarian and security reasons.
However, his statements were met with severe criticism from senior Israeli military officers, who warned that the move could lead to unnecessary escalation with the new Syrian government led by Ahmed al Sharaa.
For his part, Israeli Interior Minister Moshe Arbel supported the army’s position and refused to sign the entry permits for Syrian workers to the Golan Heights, contributing to the plan’s suspension before it could be implemented.
In contrast, the initiative received support from Druze leaders inside Israel, who facilitated communication between the two sides, while Israeli forces prepared for the workers’ crossing.
However, the last-minute cancellation decision unexpectedly halted the plan’s implementation.
In another context, residents in Daraa Governorate, in southern Syria, clashed with Israeli forces near the al Jabaliya Dam.
According to sources, local residents engaged in clashes with Israeli occupation forces around the Jabaliya Dam, while Israeli reconnaissance aircraft flew over the towns of the Yarmouk Basin, while flares were fired into the airspace of the area.
