US envoy to Syria and US ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack described Israeli control of the Golan as an “occupation that violates UN resolutions and the entire international order,” in remarks that touch one of the most sensitive unresolved issues in the Arab-Israeli conflict.
Barrack said in media comments that the Golan belongs to Syria under UN resolutions and international law, adding that the Israelis still occupy the Syrian Golan in defiance of those resolutions.
Reference to UN resolutions
Barrack said his position is based on UN resolutions and the international order, which he said makes clear that the Golan belongs to Syria.
Relevant UN resolutions, especially UN Security Council Resolution 497 adopted in 1981, say Israel’s decision to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the Golan is null and void and has no international legal effect.
Syrian position at the UN
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani said in April during a UN Security Council session that the Syrian Golan remains under occupation and called for implementation of Resolution 497 and for Israel to withdraw to the June 4, 1967 line.
Barrack’s comments bring renewed attention to the international legal status of the Golan Heights, while Damascus continues to reject any recognition of Israeli annexation.
Syria condemns drone strike on civilian vehicle near Damascus
In a separate development, Syria condemned an Israeli drone strike that hit a civilian vehicle in Beit Jinn in western rural Damascus, saying the attack was a flagrant violation of its sovereignty, territorial integrity and international law.
The Syrian Foreign Ministry said repeated Israeli attacks threaten civilian safety and regional stability, holding Israel fully responsible for the consequences.
Call for international action
The ministry urged the international community and the UN Security Council to take legal and political responsibility and put an end to the violations, after an Israeli drone hit a vehicle on the road between Mazraat Beit Jinn and Beit Jinn early on Saturday, injuring civilians.
Conclusion:
Barrack’s description of Israeli control of the Golan as occupation highlights the continuing international dispute over the legal status of the plateau, while Syria continues to press for implementation of UN resolutions and an end to repeated Israeli attacks, including strikes on civilians in the Damascus countryside.
