The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution urging Israel to withdraw from the Golan Heights, which it has held since 1967. This is part of the continuing internationalization of the territorial dispute between Israel and Syria. The resolution was endorsed by 97 countries, which demanded from Israel an end to what they termed as illegal settlement activities and renewed negotiations with Syria on a peaceful settlement.
Syria and the international community widely recognize the Golan Heights as Syrian territory, with condemnation over its occupation by Israel. The UN resolution emphasized that under international law, the Israeli act of annexing this region in 1981 remains invalid. It further said that occupation by Israel obstructs the objectives for a comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle East. The actions of Israel have been contrary to numerous United Nations Security Council and General Assembly resolutions.
The vote held on November 28 allowed the adoption of the resolution with the support of many countries across the globe including Syria, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa. Only eight nations, including the United States and the United Kingdom, voted against the measure, whereas 64 nations abstained. This vote reiterates the UN’s stance that Israel must withdraw from the Golan Heights to comply with international law.
Israel occupied the Golan Heights in the June 1967 Six-Day War. UN Resolution calls repeatedly for Israeli withdrawal from the area but Israel retains it. It has settled the area and built infrastructure, which are acts of international law contravention. The annexation of 1981 is specifically invalidated by UNSC Resolution 497, to the effect that Israel’s laws, jurisdiction, and administration in the Golan Heights have no legal standing.
The annexation of the Golan Heights by Israel has formed the crux of a peace process in the Middle East whereby Syria conditions any peace over the return of the territory. In the latest declaration, the UN has ordered Israel to stop its settlement activities and commence negotiations with Syria to resolve the matter. This is another resolution that would be part of the broader international drive to get Israel to respect Syrian sovereignty over the area.
This indicates an escalating development in diplomatic and political support for Syria’s position regarding the issue: The call from the UN for Israel’s withdrawal finds resonance within the globally accepted stance that the Golan Heights continues to remain in Syrian sovereignty because of the aforementioned countries as China, Russia, and some Arab nations. Israel, however, refused to comply with all these which led to heightened tensions in the area.
Hence, as a consequence, once again, the UN General Assembly decided for the determination of issues from which it further advances in the same direction in regard to the dispute of Golan Heights. It raised another milestone towards recognition of sovereignty over Golan Heights because of that claim for the withdrawal of Israel from such territory, as well as re-emphasizing the calling for peace talks. An industrious work remains for the formation of a peaceful conflict resolution between Israel and Syria as shared by many in the global community.
According to the UN, “Peace and security will never be achieved through force or occupation,” Assembly President Philemon Yang (Cameroon) stressed, as he emphasized that the continued denial of Palestinian statehood “has only perpetuated cycles of violence and deepened despair.” It has been over a year of hostilities that have caused thousands of deaths and widespread destruction. Now is the time for all to “bury the hatchet for once and for all,” he stressed, calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the unconditional release of all hostages.
