Israel says the move is necessary following the takeover of neighbouring Syria by an Islamist-led rebel alliance.

The 'demographic development' plan to increase settler numbers only applies to the area of the Golan Heights that Israel seized during the Six Day War in 1967 and later annexed in 1981 and not to territory taken since al-Assad's ouster.

Israel captured most of the plateau from Syria in the 1967 Six-Day War, annexing it in 1981. Syria demands Israel withdraw but Israel refuses. Various peace efforts have failed.

The Israeli government approved on Sunday a plan to increase the population of the annexed Golan Heights, while insisting it had no intention of confronting Syria after seizing a UN-monitored buffer zone.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the regime change in Syria is fuelling the need to bolster the Israeli population in the region.

Israel agreed on Sunday to double its population on the occupied Golan Heights while saying threats from Syria remained despite the moderate tone of rebel leaders who ousted President Bashar Assad a week ago.

JERUSALEM -- The Israeli government approved a plan on Sunday to expand settlements in the Golan Heights, a Syrian territory currently occupied by Israel, according to a statement by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken says U.S. officials have made direct contact with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. HTS’s leader condemned Israel’s incursion into Syria.

The Israeli government on Sunday approved a plan to invest more than $10 million in the occupied Golan Heights. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plan aims to double the population in the region, his office announced.