A group of Israeli settler activists gathered along the fence separating the occupied Golan Heights from southern Syria in mid-May.
Some chained themselves to the barrier while at least ten crossed into Syrian territory near the town of Majdal Shams, at the foot of Mount Hermon (Jabal al-Sheikh).
Organised by Halutzei HaBashan (Pioneers of Bashan), the act was the latest in a series of provocations demanding that Israel authorise Jewish settlements beyond the 1974 ceasefire line.
Israel’s military later confirmed that “[soldiers] returned the civilians to Israeli territory and apprehended them,” transferring them to the Israeli police.
