As tension between Israel and Syria remains high, UN extends Golan mandate

Saturday December 15, 2007 09:31 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC News

The United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in the Golan Heights has had its mandate extended for six months, due to a directive issued Friday by the United Nations Security Council.

UN troops stationed in Golan

The Golan Heights is a Syrian region that has been occupied by the Israeli military since 1967, due to its strategic geographic location, mountains and water sources.  Israel has refused to remove its forces from the Golan Heights, and has moved Israeli civilians into the area to set up developments. 

The UNDOF has been in place since 1974, when the Security Council authorized a withdrawal of Israeli troops, and sent the UN troops to mandate the withdrawal.  Israeli forces, however, never withdrew from Golan, and the UNDOF troops have been in place ever since.

The mandate of the troops has expired, but the UN Security Council has authorized an additional six months for the troops to supervise an ongoing ceasefire between Israel and Syria.

The UN did not react to Israel’s act of war two months ago against Syria, when an Israeli plane flew into Syrian airspace and bombed a facility that Israeli analysts claim was a possible nuclear research station.  Syria did not retaliate, and the shaky ceasefire remains in place.

The 1,000 UN troops currently stationed in the Golan Heights will stay in place until June 2008 under the new mandate.  But the Security Council urged Israel and Syria to implement their parts in a signed ceasefire, and to work toward reaching a comprehensive peace agreement.

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