Passover holiday: Israel turns Syrian territory into tourist attraction
The army noted that the tours will be coordinated with the Northern Command, the 210th Division, the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, and local educational and regional organizations, including the Keshet Yehonatan Educational Center and the Golan Field School.
According to Israeli media outlets, visitors will be allowed to explore scenic areas along the Yarmouk River and access military observation posts in zones captured during recent operations in southwestern Syria.
The initiative, scheduled to run through the Passover holiday ending April 19, comes after Israel's expanded military presence beyond the disengagement line near Mount Hermon, following the collapse of al-Assad regime in December 2024.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Rudaw Net
41 minutes ago
- Rudaw Net
KRG requested defence system from US: Official
Also in World Paris to host next round of SDF-Damascus talks Israeli, Syrian officials meet in Paris US must pressure Syria to protect minority rights: USCRIF French, US officials to meet with Syrian FM in Paris: Source A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Erbil has asked the United States to provide the Kurdistan Region with a defence system after recent drone attacks targeted oil fields including some operated by American companies, a government official said on Friday. Safeen Dizayee, head of the Department of Foreign Relations in the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), held a series of meetings with US officials and policymakers earlier this week during a trip to Washington. He said his discussions included providing a defence system for the Kurdistan Region to protect it from drone attacks blamed on Iraq's pro-Iran armed groups. 'They [the attacks] are concerning, given that we are trying to create self-reliance in the fields of oil and gas in Iraq. These attempts are aimed at preventing the development of the fields. We have discussed this [with the Americans] and they are concerned. We have also discussed the establishment of a defence system, not just to protect the interests of the American and foreign companies but those of Kurdistan and Iraq too,' Dizayee told Rudaw. Since early July, nearly 20 drone attacks have hit the Kurdistan Region, most targeting oil fields and causing significant financial losses. No group has claimed responsibility and there have been no new attacks since Erbil and Baghdad reached a new agreement on finances and oil exports last week. The KRG has directly accused Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), which includes pro-Iran groups, of being behind the drone attacks. Baghdad has denied the charge. The drones were seen by many as a pressure tactic by pro-Iran groups to make Erbil compromise with the federal government during negotiations over the resumption of the KRG's oil exports. The attacks have been condemned locally and internationally, including by the US, UK and UN. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke by phone with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani earlier this week and 'stressed the importance of the Iraqi government holding the perpetrators accountable and preventing future attacks,' read a statement from State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce on Wednesday. The Iraqi government launched an investigation into the strikes but has yet to announce the results. The federal parliament failed to discuss the matter on Monday after Kurdish lawmakers boycotted the session for unknown reasons. Iraq is largely dependent on energy imports from Iran, though the supply is irregular. Baghdad is also working to direct its own natural gas to power generation plants and end the damaging practice of flaring. Gas imports from Jordan, Turkey, and Turkmenistan are also being considered. The United States in March rescinded a waiver allowing Iraq to purchase electricity from Iran as part of President Donald Trump's maximum pressure campaign against Tehran. KRG officials have repeatedly said that developing Kurdistan Region's gas fields will benefit the whole country but Iraqi officials have come out against some of its ventures, including a recent deal with an American firm to develop the Miran Gas Field through their newly formed joint company, Miran Energy.
Shafaq News
an hour ago
- Shafaq News
Syria's shadow rulers reshape economy
Shafaq News - Damascus In the weeks after Damascus fell to Syria's rebels, a leading businessman got a late-night call to come see 'the sheikh.' The address was familiar, a building where periodic shakedowns of businessmen like him occurred under Bashar al-Assad's economic empire. But there were new bosses in town. With a long, dark beard and a pistol on his waist, the sheikh gave only a fighter's pseudonym, Abu Mariam. Now the leader of a committee reshaping Syria's economy, he asked questions in courteous Arabic with a slight Australian twang. 'He asked me about my work, how much money we made,' the businessman said. 'I just kept looking at the gun.' A Reuters investigation has found that Syria's new leadership is secretly restructuring an economy broken by corruption and years of sanctions against Assad's government, under the auspices of a group of men whose identities have until now been concealed under pseudonyms. The committee's mission: decipher the legacy of the Assad-era economy, then decide what to restructure and what to retain.
Shafaq News
2 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Obstacle to solution: US, Israel accuse Hamas
Shafaq News – Middle East On Friday, US President Donald Trump accused Hamas of 'deliberately obstructing' efforts to secure a ceasefire and release hostages in the Gaza Strip, claiming the group has 'no real intention of reaching an agreement.' 'Hamas didn't want to make a deal. I think they want to die,' Trump told reporters at the White House. 'We're now at the final stage of the hostage situation. They know what comes next once the remaining hostages are recovered, and that's exactly why they pulled back.' 🚨WATCH: President Trump: on Hams and Gaza: "They pulled out in terms of negotiating. It was too bad. Hamas didn't really want to make a deal. I think they want to die." — Raylan Givens (@JewishWarrior13) July 25, 2025 His remarks followed the announcement by US Middle East peace envoy Steve Witkoff that the Trump administration had recalled its negotiating team for internal consultations in response to Hamas' latest position. We have decided to bring our team home from Doha for consultations after the latest response from Hamas, which clearly shows a lack of desire to reach a ceasefire in Gaza. While the mediators have made a great effort, Hamas does not appear to be coordinated or acting in good… — Special Envoy for Peace Missions Steve Witkoff (@SEPeaceMissions) July 24, 2025 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that Israel is working with its US partners to explore alternative strategies for recovering the hostages held by Hamas. He backed Witkoff's assessment, branding Hamas as 'the main obstacle' to any breakthrough in the talks. Netanyahu also underscored that the broader objective extends beyond hostage recovery, aiming to dismantle Hamas' control over Gaza and establish lasting regional stability. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff got it right. Hamas is the obstacle to a hostage release deal. Together with our U.S. allies, we are now considering alternative options to bring our hostages home, end Hamas's terror rule, and secure lasting peace for Israel and… — Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) July 25, 2025 Earlier, Hamas accused US mediators of reversing their commitments and confirmed it had delivered its response—alongside those of other Palestinian factions—to the proposed ceasefire framework. The group stressed that it remains engaged in negotiations and is pushing for a resolution that brings the war to an end.
