UN Committee Backs Syrian Golan Sovereignty, Damascus Accuses Israel of Water Exploitation
Translated & summarized from i24NEWS Arabic by baba
A UN committee approved a resolution affirming Syrian sovereignty over Golan's natural resources, with 151 nations supporting it. Syria accused Israel of exploiting water and land in southern Syria after expanding its military presence there. Israel's Defense Minister stated forces would remain in a "security zone" to protect Golan communities. The UN Security Council previously declared Israel's Golan administration illegal.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- 151 countries supported a UN resolution affirming Syrian sovereignty over Golan's natural resources.
- Syria accused Israel of seizing water sources and bulldozing land in southern Syria.
- Israeli forces expanded into new areas of southern Syria after the Assad regime's fall.
- Israel's Defense Minister stated forces would remain in a "security zone" in Syria.
- The UN Security Council previously deemed Israel's Golan administration illegal.
A United Nations committee has approved a draft resolution affirming the permanent sovereignty of the Syrian people in the Golan over their natural resources. The resolution, which also includes the right of Palestinians to their natural resources, calls on Israel to cease exploiting or depleting these resources. The draft was presented by Uruguay on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, garnering support from 151 countries, with seven nations, including Israel and the United States, voting against it, and 11 abstaining. The resolution will now proceed to the full UN General Assembly for a vote.
Syria's Ambassador to the UN, Ibrahim Alibi, stated that the vote reflects international backing for Damascus's approach of de-escalation and adherence to international law. He linked the population's right to land, water, and energy to their ability to secure livelihoods. Alibi also accused Israel of seizing water sources and bulldozing agricultural land in southern Syria, areas that Israeli forces entered after the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime in December 2024.
Since 1967, Israel has controlled the Golan Heights, including areas that feed the Jordan River. Following the Syrian regime's collapse, Israeli military presence expanded into additional sites on the Syrian side of Mount Hermon and parts of Quneitra and western Daraa. In the Yarmouk basin, shared by Syria and Jordan, satellite imagery revealed Israeli roads, trenches, and barriers intersecting with streams feeding the Ruqqad River, a Yarmouk tributary. A Carnegie Institution study indicates that five reservoirs in the Golan collect water from the Yarmouk basin, with a total capacity of 16.5 million cubic meters.
The vote comes as Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz reiterated on Thursday Israel's commitment to maintaining its forces in what he termed a "security zone" inside Syria, stating the objective is to protect Golan communities. Damascus demands the withdrawal of Israeli forces from positions occupied after the Assad regime's fall. The UN Security Council previously addressed the Golan's status in Resolution 497 of 1981, deeming Israel's imposition of its laws and administration on the area null and void under international law.