UN adopts resolution calling on Israel to withdraw from Golan Heights

The United Nations (UN) General Assembly adopted a resolution demanding that Israel withdraw its forces from the Golan Heights and recognising the occupation of the territory as illegal.

The document “The Syrian Golan” (A/80/L.12) calls on Israel once again to withdraw from all occupied Syrian Golan to the lines of June 4, 1967, in accordance with relevant Security Council resolutions, Caliber.Az reports, citing the UN’s website.

It declares Israel’s December 14, 1981, decision to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the territory null and void and calls for its rescission, while noting that respecting previous commitments is essential for a just and lasting peace in the Middle East.

The resolution, presented by Egypt, was approved by 123 countries.

Seven countries voted against it—Israel, the United States, Micronesia, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, and Tonga—while 41 countries abstained.

A similar resolution is submitted annually by Syria and Arab states and traditionally receives broad support.

The Golan Heights is a 1,860 km² plateau in southwestern Syria that was captured by Israel from Syria during the 1967 Six-Day War. After the war, Israel placed the territory under military administration.

In December 1981, Israel passed the Golan Heights Law, extending Israeli law and administration to the territory — a move interpreted as annexation.

The international community, including the United Nations Security Council, rejected this annexation: UN Security Council Resolution 497 (1981) declared the law “null and void and without international legal effect.”

As a result, most countries continue to regard the Golan Heights as Syrian territory occupied by Israel, with only a few exceptions.

By Jeyhun Aghazada