Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday ordered a temporary halt to the construction of a wind turbine project that became the subject of controversy and conflict between the government and the Druze population in the Golan Heights.

The wind turbine project, ARAN (Hebrew acronym for “Clean Wind Energy”), was contracted between the Israeli Ministry of Defense and ARAN, a subsidiary of Energix Renewable Energies Ltd. The project aimed at building a wind farm in the Golan Heights to produce electricity, with an estimated cost of NIS 700 million. 

However, residents have objected to the project over its potential impact on birds, its refusal to let local landowners out of their leases, and objections from local religious leaders over increasing Israeli intrusion.

The project caused thousands of Druze people to protest on Wednesday, which turned into a rare clash with Israel Police, where injuries were reported. In a statement delivered on Wednesday, PM Netanyahu said that:

The State of Israel is a nation of laws. All citizens of Israel are obligated to obey the law. We will not allow disturbances either on the Golan Heights or in Judea and Samaria…I give full backing to the Israel Police and the security forces in their efforts to maintain law and order.

After the construction resumed on Thursday, protesters returned to the streets on Friday. The spiritual leader of the Druze community, Sheikh Mowafaq Tarif, sent a list of requests to the PM, threatening a powerful response if the demands are not met. 

On Saturday night, Netanyahu spoke to Tarif again, telling him that “it has been decided to accede to his request and refrain from resuming work on the Golan Heights until after the Eid Al-Adha holiday.” The decision was made upon the recommendations of the Israeli Securities Authority Director and the Israeli Police Inspector General. However, the National Security Minister said that the work should continue.