Syria asks for UN Security Council Meeting at Golan
Syria has called on the United Nations Security Council to hold an urgent meeting about the US decision to give recognition to the territory of Golan Heights as Israeli territory. It was last Monday when US President Donald Trump had put his signatures on a proclamation under which US gave recognition to the fact that Israel had annexed the plateau of Golan Heights despite the resolutions passed by UN under which Golan was seen as an Israeli-occupied territory. Israel had occupied Golan Heights from Syria in 1967 during the Arab-Israeli War and still continues to do so. Israel has control over two-thirds of the wider Golan Heights region as a result of direct conflict. It was in 1981 that Israel had directly annexed the area in a move which was collectively rejected by the UNSC.
The Syrian Mission to the United Nations, has asked the Council Presidency which is currently held by France for scheduling an urgent meeting for discussing the situation in the occupied territory of Golan and the recent tensions which have been sparked by the violation of Security Council Resolution by a permanent member of the Security Council. The French Presidency did not schedule the meeting immediately and even the diplomats said that the council will hold a discussion about the request.
Even the head of Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shia movement, who is key Syrian ally has called for resistance against the decision of US. The Chief of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, has stated the only option with the Syrians is to take their land back for achieving their legitimate rights. He also labelled the move of the US President as a vital turning point in the history of Arab-Israeli conflict. In a televised address, Nasrallah has stated about the Trump’s decision that it “deals a knockout punch to what is called the peace process in the region, which is built on (the concept of) land in exchange for peace”. He also called on the Arab League to take suitable action at the end of the month at a summit. Trump’s decision was earlier also rejected by five European countries who had seats on the council. They had raised their voices against the US move that it will have broad consequences in the Middle East.
