Two Israeli civilians who crossed the border into Syrian territory from the Mount Hermon area were located and returned by IDF troops on Thursday, the military said, in the latest of a series of repeated crossings by right-wing activists.
The two were detained and transferred to Israel Police for further handling.
The IDF strongly condemned the incident, describing it as “another case of serious disruption to operational activity” that endangered troops operating in the area.
“Law-enforcement authorities are required to bring those involved to justice, in order to prevent the same civilians from repeatedly engaging in this phenomenon, which constitutes a criminal offense,” the military said.
More than 150 suspects have been caught crossing the Israel-Syria border in 16 attempts by Israeli civilians over the past several months, The Jerusalem Post has learned.
The right-wing Bashan Pioneers movement said Thursday’s incident marked the second evacuation within 24 hours of a site it calls “Tal Hermon,” beyond what it described as the former border with Syria.
Israeli activists continue to organize groups to cross the border
According to the movement, activists returned to the location immediately after it was evacuated on Wednesday and were detained again on Thursday.
“Unfortunately, they too were arrested a short time ago,” the movement said. “The next group is already on its way.”
Bashan Pioneers advocates establishing Israeli civilian communities in southern Syria and has organized repeated attempts to cross the border and maintain a presence beyond it.
An organizer involved in the campaign told the Post that more than 1,000 activists had participated in the movement’s various activities, including hundreds who took part in actions carrying a risk of detention.
Five activists remained in custody as of Thursday, the organizer said. Others had been released after questioning, in some cases following several days in detention, and subjected to conditions including house arrest, exclusion from the Golan Heights and additional restrictions.
He also alleged that police had confiscated activists’ phones and other personal property and had refused to return some of the items.
The organizer accused law-enforcement authorities of discriminating against right-wing activists, comparing their treatment with that of anti-government demonstrators who blocked roads and Druze Israelis who crossed into Syria during sectarian violence last year.
The IDF characterized the crossings as a recurring criminal phenomenon that disrupted operational activity and endangered soldiers.
