Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar on Sunday condemned the Israeli government’s approval of a plan to expand its settlements in the occupied Golan Heights.
RIYADH/DOHA, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) — Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar on Sunday condemned the Israeli government’s approval of a plan to expand its settlements in the Golan Heights busy.
The Saudi Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the move was a continuation of efforts to sabotage Syria’s chances of restoring security and stability.
He stressed the need to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria.
The UAE warned in a statement from its Foreign Ministry that Israel’s actions risked exacerbating tensions in the region.
“The United Arab Emirates categorically rejects all measures and practices aimed at changing the legal status of the occupied Golan Heights,” the statement said, stressing that the expansion of Israeli settlements on the plateau constituted a direct threat to security, stability and sovereignty of Syria.
In a statement, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry described the decision as “a new episode in a series of aggressions against Syrian territory and flagrant violations of international law by Israel.” He called on the international community to assume its legal and moral responsibilities by forcing Israel to stop its attacks on Syrian territory and to respect international legitimacy decisions.
The statement reiterated Qatar’s unwavering support for Syria’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.
The Israeli government on Sunday approved a plan to expand its settlements in the Golan Heights, a Syrian territory currently occupied by Israel, according to a statement from the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.■
