From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, April 22, 2026
Dozens of settler activists cross into Syria, are escorted out by IDF
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleEmanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
Dozens of Israeli settler activists breached the border into Syria a short while ago, before being escorted out by the army.
The activists, who called themselves the Bashan Pioneers, say they barricaded themselves in a building on the outskirts of the Syrian town of Hader, saying they would stay there until the Israeli government approves settlements in Syria.
According to the IDF, some 40 activists traveled about half a kilometer inside Syria. Troops then took the activists back to Israel and handed them over to the police.
The IDF says it “strongly condemns this incident and emphasizes its severity, which constitutes a criminal offense that endangers civilians and IDF troops.”
עשרות פעילי תנועת "חלוצי הבשן" הדורשים ליישב את המרחב הסורי הכבוש, מתבצרים כעת על גג בפאתי הכפר הדרוזי ח'דר למרגלות החרמון.
הם מכריזים כי ישארו במקום "עד שהמדינה תאשר לגרעין המשפחות של התנועה לבוא ולהתיישב בחבל הבשן שלנו". כוחות צה"ל במרחב פועלים להחזיר אותם לשטח ישראל. pic.twitter.com/o44n3ecQ9n— יאיר קראוס (@yair_kraus) April 22, 2026
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