2 more settlement activists detained while trying to cross into Syria

Two Israeli settlement activists illegally crossed the border into Syria today before being returned to Israel by the IDF, in the latest in a series of such incidents.

The military says the pair arrived in the Mount Hermon area and crossed the border.

“IDF troops who were dispatched to the scene located the civilians, returned them to Israeli territory and detained them,” the military says, adding that they were handed over to the police.

The activists, who call themselves the Bashan Pioneers, call for the establishment of settlements in the southern Syria area.

There has been an increase in attempts by the activists to cross the border into Syria in recent weeks.

“The IDF strongly condemns the incident, which constitutes another serious disruption of operational activity and poses a danger to the safety of IDF troops operating in the area,” the military says.

The IDF adds that “law enforcement authorities are required to bring those involved to justice and to prevent those individuals from repeating this phenomenon, which constitutes a criminal offense.”

There have been no charges filed against Bashan Pioneers members, and despite their illegal actions, they have received support from coalition lawmakers.