ISLAMABAD – The UN Human Rights Council on Friday criticised Israelisettlement expansion in the occupied Syrian Golan Heights a day after USPresident Donald Trump’s decision to recognise Israeli sovereignty over thedisputed territory.
The UN rights forum adopted an annual resolution on the Syrian Golan,brought by Pakistan on behalf of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference(OIC), with 26 states in favor, 16 against and 5 abstentions.
European members including Britain voted against it. The United States,which quit the Council last year accusing it of an anti-Israel bias, doesnot participate.
“Voting for such a resolution should send a clear message… to the occupyingpower and to all who support Israel inside this Council and outside,”Syria’s ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Hussam Edin Aala, toldthe talks.
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“The United States is justifying the practices by the Israeli occupationand ignoring Security Council resolutions,” he said. “The occupied SyrianGolan was and shall remain Arab and Syrian.”
