A senior UN official on Thursday condemned Israel's ongoing military presence and operations in southern Syria as near-daily violations of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement and Syrian sovereignty.
At a UN Security Council meeting on the Syrian crisis, Claudio Cordone, the UN Deputy Special Envoy for Syria, warned that Israel's continued military activities in southern Syria violate the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement between Israeli and Syrian forces, monitored by the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF).
"Israeli presence and military activity in southern Syria has continued in violation of the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement, with near-daily incursions, temporary checkpoints, searches of homes and artillery fire, particularly in Quneitra and western Daraa. Two Syrians who were taken to Israel and held there were returned home, but others remain in Israeli custody. On September 9, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu visited Israeli forces on Jabal al-Sheikh/Mount Hermon, reiterating that Israel would not permit hostile forces to establish themselves along its border," said Cordone.
Cordone's remarks came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Mount Hermon in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, where he said Israel would not withdraw its troops from Syria, a position that has drawn widespread condemnation. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has repeatedly demanded that Israel stop violating Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
