Israel Matzav

Why the UN worries about spillover from Syria to Golan

The United Nations Security Council woke up long enough on Wednesday to express 'concern' over the prospect of Syria's civil war spilling over to the Golan Heights. No, the Security Council isn't worried about the Jewish residents of the Golan, nor even about the Druze residents of the Golan. They're worried about the UN troops (UNDOF) that 'observe' the peace on the Golan Heights.

"The members of the Security Council expressed grave concern at all violations of the Disengagement of Forces Agreement," the council said, adding that it also voiced "grave concern at the presence of the Syrian Arab Republic Armed Forces inside the area of separation." UNDOF has the task of monitoring an "area of separation" between Syrian and Israeli forces, a narrow strip of land running 45 miles (70 km) from Mount Hermon on the Lebanese border to the Yarmouk River frontier with Jordan.

In its statement, the council also "expressed grave concern at the presence of armed members of the opposition in the area of separation." The council "called on all parties, including armed elements of the Syrian opposition, to respect UNDOF's freedom of movement and the safety and security of its personnel, while recalling that the primary responsibility for safety and security ... rests with the Syrian Government." Israel captured the Golan plateau from Syria in the 1967 Middle East war.

And if the fighting does spill over into the Golan? The IDF is ready....

Labels: Bashar al-Assad, Free Syrian Army, Golan Heights, Syrian uprising

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 10:39 AM