Syrian Golan
Position of the League of Arab States
On June 4th, 1967, Israel occupied the Syrian Golan Heights, and subsequently imposed its laws, sovereignty, and administration over them. The new situation led to a factual annexation of these territories to Israel. A matter that is considered a violation of the principle stipulating the inadmissibility of taking possession of territories by force, in view of the United Nation's charter, and principles of the international law. Moreover, such an action came as a flagrant violation of all the following international resolutions:
Security Council resolutions 242, 338, and 425, issued respectively in 1967, 1973, and 1978.
The "Land for Peace" Principle. Resolution 497 of 1981, in which the Security Council decided the invalidity of Israel's imposition of its laws, sovereignty, and administration over the occupied Golan, thereby demanding Israel to immediately call off such measures without any delay. Among other resolutions, violated by the subject action, were various UN General Assembly relevant resolutions, last of which was resolution RE/A/55/51 dated December 1st, 2001.
Since the launch of the peace process in Madrid Peace Conference, held on October 1991, upon clear principles accepted by the Arab side, with keenness to avoid war atrocities in the region, and a hope to restore the Arab entitlements, Israel has been displaying ongoing nonchalance throughout all rounds of negotiation, thus proving lack of interest in reaching agreements that would bring about peace in the region.
Having scrutinized the Golan issue, Amman Summit 2001 asserted the following:
Full support of the member states to the just Syrian claim, and Syria's right to restore the entire Arab Syrian Golan occupied since June 4, 1967. It also expressed full solidarity with Syria and Lebanon, and rejection of Israel's threats recently escalated against both states.
Rejection of all measures taken by Israel to alter the legal, normal, and demographic status of the occupied Syrian Golan, and consequently considering the Israeli control over the same as illegal, null, and void.
Full support to the Syrian citizens' steadfastness against the Israeli occupation, and their resilience to hold on to their land, and Arab Syrian identity.
Call on the peace process sponsors, and the international community to shoulder their responsibility as to committing Israel to implement the international legitimacy resolutions, and demanding it to pull out from the occupied Syrian Golan. Moreover, to provide full support to Syria's constant obligation towards a comprehensive and just peace in the region based upon the grounds of peace process, and International legitimacy resolutions.
Condemnation of Israeli threats against Syria and Lebanon, and considering any Israeli act of aggression against both states, as directed against the entire Arab world.
During its extra-ordinary session, on April 21st, 2001, the Arab League Council studied, at the permanent delegates' level, the Israeli aggression, that took place on April 16, 2001, against the sovereignty of the Lebanese Republic, and Syrian troops operating in Lebanon. Consequently, it issued a statement in which it strongly condemned the subject action, considering it as a serious escalation that represents a flagrant violation of all international legitimacy resolutions, and a plain consistent provocation that threatens security of the entire region. It also held Israel responsible for the consequences of its aggression.
The Council assigned Secretary-General to establish necessary communication with UN Security Council, and various international concerned organizations and parties, to clarify the Arab stand concerning the Israeli aggressions and threats against Syria and Lebanon.
In the framework of having the same implemented, the Secretary-General addressed letters to the Secretary-Generals of the UN, African Unity Organization, and Islamic Conference Organization, as well as to both NATO's and European Union's current presidents, calling on them to coerce Israel [to] abide by the international legitimacy resolutions, in order to maintain peace and stability in the region.
The final communiqué issued by the ad hoc Arab-African Cooperation Committee meeting, held in Algeria on April 14th, 2001, included a condemnation of the Israeli aggressive policy against the Lebanese people, and Israel's flagrant aggression against the Syrian sites in Lebanon. The communiqué called for a stand against such aggressive practices, and demanded that the United Nations should burden its responsibility in terminating the Israeli aggressive policies.
During its meeting in Doha, on May 28th, 2001, the convention of the Islamic Conference Organization's Foreign Ministers expressed full Islamic solidarity with Syria and Lebanon in the face of the ongoing Israeli aggression and threats. It called upon all the organization's member states to adopt factual and practical measures to express this solidarity, and firm support of Syria and Lebanon against any Israeli aggression.
The Ministerial Assembly of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), held in Jeddah on June 2nd, 2001, issued a statement calling on Israel to stop all practices that may lead to further regional deterioration at the Syrian and Lebanese fronts. The statement, also, called on Israel to proceed to negotiations aiming at the achievement of full withdrawal from the Arab Syrian Golan, occupied since June 4th, 1967.
During both its meetings held in Cairo and Amman on May 12th, and June 18th, 2001, respectively, the Ministerial Follow-up Committee investigated the gravity of the Israeli aggression against Syria and Lebanon. The Committee affirmed full Arab solidarity with Syria and Lebanon, in the face of the ongoing Israeli threats against both states. It, further, recommended all Arab states to express this solidarity in all official announcements, and through media means, thus asserting concrete stand with Syria and Lebanon in the face of any Israeli aggression against both states.
The League of Arab States supports the Syrian just claim, and Syria's right to restore, in full, the Arab Syrian Golan occupied by Israel since June 4th , 1967. It also asserts solidarity with Syria in the face of the Israeli threats against Syria and Lebanon. In this regard, the League calls on the international community to hold its responsibility in pushing Israel to implement the international legitimacy resolutions, which call for full withdrawal from the occupied Syrian Golan. Finally, it pays respect to the Syrian people in Golan, for their steadfastness and adherence to their national identity.
