Cairo, December 17, 2024 – The Secretariat General of the Arab League has issued a forceful condemnation of the Israeli government's recent decision to expand settlements in the occupied Syrian Golan. The move, which aims to increase the number of Israeli settlers in the region, further entrenches Israel's control over the strategically significant Golan Heights, a territory that has been under Israeli occupation since the 1967 Six-Day War. The Arab League denounced the decision as a blatant violation of international law and a dangerous escalation that threatens to destabilize the region further.
Arab League Assistant Secretary General for Palestine and the Occupied Arab Territories, Ambassador Saeed Abu Ali, strongly condemned Israel’s actions, describing them as a serious violation of international laws and United Nations resolutions. In a statement, Ambassador Abu Ali emphasized that these measures directly undermine Syria’s efforts to establish security and stability within its borders. He also highlighted the detrimental impact on regional peace, noting that such Israeli actions exacerbate the already fragile geopolitical situation in the Middle East.
Ambassador Abu Ali reaffirmed the Arab League's steadfast position on the occupied Syrian Golan, stressing the Arab identity of the region and Syria’s sovereignty over its territory. He made it clear that Israel’s attempts to alter the character and legal status of the Golan Heights are in direct contravention of established international legitimacy. According to the Ambassador, the resolutions of international bodies, including the United Nations Security Council, have consistently deemed Israel's actions in the Golan as null and void. These include the UN Security Council Resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973), and 497 (1981), all of which demand Israel’s full withdrawal from all occupied Palestinian and Arab territories, including the Syrian Golan.
The Arab League’s statement further called on the international community to take immediate action and exert pressure on Israel to cease its settlement expansion and other hostile actions. The League stressed the necessity of holding Israel accountable for its violations of international law and ensuring compliance with the relevant UN resolutions. The Arab League also reiterated its support for Syria’s right to recover the occupied Golan and its unwavering commitment to the principles of justice, peace, and the protection of Arab territories under international law.
The expansion of Israeli settlements in the Golan is part of a broader pattern of Israeli activities in the occupied Palestinian territories and other Arab regions that continue to strain relations in the Middle East. The Arab League’s condemnation represents a call for renewed international focus on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the broader Arab-Israeli tensions, and the need for a peaceful resolution based on international law and the rights of the affected peoples.