Israel has reportedly offered Syrians living in the buffer zone near the Golan Heights the opportunity to work in Israel, with attractive wages as part of a new initiative. According to a report by Saudi news network Al-Arabiya, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) proposed the scheme to residents of towns and villages in southern Syria. These areas were taken over by Israel following the fall of the Assad regime in December 2023.
Under the program, Syrians living near the border would be allowed to cross into Israel daily for work, specifically in construction and agriculture on the Golan Heights. At the end of each day, they would return to Syria. The wages offered—between $75 and $100 per day—are seen as high in Syria, where economic hardships are widespread.
This initiative, which is being developed by Israeli security officials, is reportedly modeled on a similar program that allowed Gazans to work in Israel before the Hamas-led invasion on October 7, 2023. At the end of 2022, around 17,000 Gazans were permitted to work in Israel under this arrangement.
The program began at the request of Golan Druze, who sought assistance from Israeli officials for their Syrian Druze counterparts. The first stage of the program would involve a small group of Syrian Druze workers. Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have emphasized their commitment to protecting the Druze population in southwestern Syria and preventing harm from jihadist groups or the Syrian government.
While Israel has described its presence in the southern Syrian buffer zone as a temporary and defensive measure, Israeli leaders have indicated that their forces will remain in the area for the foreseeable future. This move comes as Israel seeks to prevent any military activity from Syria’s new regime in the southern regions of Quneitra, Daraa, and Suweyda. Israel’s occupation of the Golan Heights, which began during the 1967 Six-Day War and was followed by its annexation in 1981, remains a contentious issue internationally, with the UN considering the Israeli takeover of the buffer zone a violation of the 1974 disengagement agreement. However, Israel asserts that the agreement has been rendered ineffective due to changes in the situation on the ground.
Source : https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-reportedly-offering-syrians-from-buffer-zone-to-work-in-israel/