Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior officials traveled to Syria’s southern province to visit troops stationed in Syrian territory, which they have occupied for months.
As rebel forces overran the regime of former president Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December, Israel expanded its occupation of southern Syria.
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The UN Security Council was informed on Wednesday by Ibrahim Olabi, Syria’s ambassador to the UN, that “my government strongly condemns this provocative tour, which epitomizes Israel’s ongoing aggression against Syria and its people.”
Following the Arab-Israeli War of 1973, “We reiterate our call on the UN and this council to immediately take action to stop these violations, ensure their non-recurrence, end the occupation, and ratify relevant resolutions, particularly the 1974 disengagement agreement.”
Israel has maintained troops in a UN-patrolled buffer zone in the Golan Heights, separating Israeli and Syrian forces, since al-Assad’s regime was overthrown.
Netanyahu and other senior Israeli officials’ “very public visit,” according to UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric, was “concerning, to say the least.”
According to Dujarric, Syria’s full sovereignty, unity, independence, and territorial integrity were “demanded by UN Resolution 2799,” which was just passed by the Security Council.”
Since al-Assad fled, Israel has asserted that the 1974 agreement has been void and that it has violated Syrian sovereignty through airstrikes, ground infiltration, reconnaissance overflights, the establishment of checkpoints, and the arrest and disappearance of Syrian citizens.
Syria has not responded to the attacks.
“No aggression at all”
Danny Danon, Israel’s ambassador to the UN, addressed the ambassador to Syria at the Security Council meeting instead of directly addressing Netanyahu’s visit.
“Show us that Syria is a country that is separating itself from radical and extremist extremism, and that protecting Jews and Christians is a top priority.” Show us that the militias have stopped the cycle of indiscriminate killings, that justice is upheld, and that the militias are restrained, and that the killings are not just, Danon said.
Olabi responded, “Your weight is usually on your shoulders, Mr. Ambassador.” You have hit Syria more than 1, 000 times, and Israel has not shown any signs of aggression against you. We have responded with diplomatic requests. We engaged in a productive way. and we’re still waiting for you to follow suit.
Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, Defense Minister Israel Katz, Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, and Shin Bet security service head David Zini traveled to Syria with David Zini, the head of the organization, and Defense Minister Israel Katz.
The ministry of foreign affairs and expatriates in Syria “strongly condemned the unlawful visit,” saying that it “violated Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
Israel’s army made another offensive in Syria this month, setting up a military post in Quneitra’s southern province.
Since al-Assad was overthrown, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa claimed that since al-Assad’s overthrow, Israel has carried out more than 1, 000 airstrikes and more than 400 ground incursions in Syria. He added that the actions were “very dangerous.”
Gabriel Elizondo, a journalist for the UN in New York, noted that Syria and Israel are still negotiating a security pact, which analysts believe could be finalized by the year’s end.
