The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Wednesday that it intends to build temporary military posts to ensure the Israeli forces' operation during the winter months inside a demilitarized buffer zone in Golan Heights in southern Syria, according to Israeli media reports.
In the wake of the fall of Bashar al-Assad's government earlier in December, the Israeli military seized the UN-monitored demilitarized buffer zone in the Golan Heights, where it claimed to expand settlements, a move that drew widespread international condemnation.
The UN has recently condemned Israel's occupation of the buffer zone, saying that "the United Nations continues to consider the Golan Heights to be the occupied territory of Syria".
However, shortly after the occupation of the buffer zone, the Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz ordered the military to "prepare to remain" throughout the winter.
German press agency DPA cited Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) as saying on Wednesday that Israeli forces have advanced further into Syria in several places beyond the buffer zone of the occupied Golan Heights.
The SOHR reported Wednesday that Israeli troops had advanced another 7 km into Syrian territory and reached several towns.
The Israeli military said that its forces were "operating in southern Syria within the buffer zone and at strategic points to protect the residents of northern Israel."
According to Israeli and Syrian media reports, the Israeli army on Wednesday opened fire on a group of people protesting against the Israeli army's occupation of the Golan Heights in southern Syria, injuring three people.
The Israeli military said that local protesters had tried to approach the Israeli army, and the Israeli soldiers fired warning shots and asked the protesters to leave.
The Israeli army said it is investigating the incident, and will continue to deploy in the area.
The Golan Heights is a strip of land in southwest Syria. A portion of the strategically important rocky plateau was captured by Israel in 1967 and annexed in 1981, a move not recognized internationally.
UN Security Council Resolution 497, adopted in 1981, clearly states that Israel's decision to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration in the occupied Syrian Golan Heights was "null and void and without international legal effect."
Israel to set up temporary military posts in buffer zone with Syria
Israel to set up temporary military posts in buffer zone with Syria
Israel to set up temporary military posts in buffer zone with Syria
A contemporary Chinese art exhibition has been held at the Hungarian National Museum in Budapest, playing a vibrant role in fostering cultural ties between the East and the West. The exhibits, including brush paintings and sculptures on mountains, rivers, plants, blend traditional brushwork with Western influences, creating a serene, meditative atmosphere.
The artists' deep connection with the natural world is a window that the "Chinese Xieyi exhibition'' at the Hungarian National Museum presents to the public to explore Chinese philosophy, according to Tunde FegyvAri-Komori, curator of the Hungarian National Museum.
"This exhibition is a collection of 58 artworks, including four sculptures from 58 different artists, from the National Art Museum of China's collection. And they represent modern and contemporary artworks, partly reflecting back to the traditional Chinese painting and Chinese art, and partly reflecting to Western influences in art, which mostly started arriving in China after the 1970s and the 80s," said FegyvAri-Komori.
Much of the exhibition showcases traditional Chinese brushwork, where delicate strokes create intricate designs and meanings that express deep philosophical meanings, allowing viewers to experience the world from their perspective.
"The Chinese curators constructed the exhibition around these three topics and these three main aspects to approach Xieyi itself. The first one is called 'yi', which translates as meaning. This focuses on the essence of the topic. The second one is form, which in Chinese is 'xing,' and it's quite similar to meaning, but from a different approach. They are focusing on the form itself that they see, but they are not aiming at mirroring reality. The third one is called 'interest,' or in Chinese called 'qu.' And in this last part, I would say that it's a combination of the first two," said FegyvAri-Komori.
One standout piece is a sculpture that blends mythology and modern art, depicting Lao Tzu departing from the Qin Empire (221 BC to 207 BC), carrying the wisdom that shaped Taoist thought with him. The ox-head panther he rides symbolizes mysticism and the spiritual journey, adding another mythical dimension to the work.
"It expresses Xieyi very well, but at the same time, it also expresses a little bit of Western modern art, abstract art," said FegyvAri-Komori.
For many visitors, the exhibition is a chance to experience the dynamic evolution of Chinese art.
"My father had several books about Chinese art, about porcelains, ceramics, and paintings. It always struck me how different it is from our European tradition. There's a subtlety and sensitivity in it. The way they express emotions feels so unique and profound," said Daniel, a visitor.
The exhibition, part of celebrations of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Hungary and China, celebrates cultural exchange and shared appreciation for art and culture.
Contemporary Chinese art expo held in Hungary helps cultivate ties between east and west
