Riyadh: Several countries in the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Qatar, have condemned Colombia's recent recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the occupied Syrian Golan Heights. They assert that this move constitutes a violation of international law and relevant UN resolutions.
According to Anadolu Agency, the Saudi Foreign Ministry issued a statement emphasizing that Colombia's recognition breaches the UN Charter, particularly UN Security Council Resolution 497 of 1981. This resolution declared Israel's imposition of its laws, jurisdiction, and administration over the occupied Syrian Golan as "null and void and without international legal effect."
The statement further highlighted that such positions do not contribute to achieving peace. Instead, they diverge from the broad international consensus on the occupied Syrian Golan, reinforce attempts to impose a fait accompli, and undermine efforts aimed at fostering peace in the region. Saudi Arabia reaffirmed its longstanding view that the Golan Heights are occupied Syrian Arab territory, stating that no measures or decisions seeking to alter its legal status can create any rights or legitimacy.
The Saudi government urged Colombia to revisit its decision made on August 10, align with international law and UN resolutions, and continue supporting efforts to achieve security, stability, and a just and lasting peace in the region.
Similarly, Egypt's Foreign Ministry expressed a "categorical rejection" of Bogota's decision and called upon Israel to withdraw from the occupied Syrian territory. "All measures and decisions aimed at entrenching the Israeli occupation or legitimizing the annexation of the Golan have no legal effect and do not alter its legal status," the ministry stated.
In alignment with this stance, the Qatari Foreign Ministry also denounced Colombia's move. "Assisting the occupation in disregarding relevant UN resolutions concerning the occupied Golan Heights, particularly Security Council Resolution 497 of 1981, will not alter the fact that the Golan Heights is occupied Arab territory," it stated, warning that any unilateral recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the occupied Golan Heights would seriously undermine efforts to achieve regional peace.
The Golan Heights have been under Israeli control since they were occupied during the 1967 Middle East war.