Syria protests to UN over Colombia’s recognition of Israel’s claim over occupied Golan Heights

Syria formally denounced Colombia’s recognition of what it described as Israeli sovereignty over the occupied Golan Heights, submitting a letter on Wednesday to the UN secretary-general and the president of the UN Security Council.

In the letter, delivered by Syria’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Ibrahim Alabi, Damascus expressed its strong condemnation and categorical rejection of the Colombian government’s decision.

This comes after Colombia’s far-right government recognised the Israeli claim over the Golan Heights, just days after far-right President Abelardo de la Espriella assumed power.

The announcement, made on Monday, makes Colombia and the US the only nations to recognise Israel’s annexation of the region in 1981.

Damascus said the recognition constitutes a clear violation of the UN Charter and UN Security Council Resolution 497 of 1981, and carries no legal effect or consequence.

Damascus stressed that the decision does not alter the legal status of the Golan Heights, which it considers occupied Syrian territory, Syria’s official news agency, SANA, reported.

Syria also expressed hope that Colombia would reconsider its position and withdraw its recognition.

Mohamed Ahmed Al-Yamahi, the president of the Arab Parliament, criticised Colombia’s announcement on Wednesday, describing it as a blatant violation of international law and an unacceptable disregard for international legitimacy and UN resolutions.

Al-Yamahi emphasised the Arab Parliament’s longstanding position that the Golan Heights is “occupied Arab Syrian land,” stressing that no position or declaration issued unilaterally by any state can change its legal status or affect Syria’s established rights over the territory.

He called on the Colombian government to reconsider its decision and immediately reverse it, while urging Bogotá to adhere to the principles of international law and relevant UN resolutions.

He also reiterated the Arab Parliament’s support for Syria’s efforts to restore its sovereignty over the entirety of the occupied Syrian Golan Heights.

On Tuesday, Syria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates had also hit out at Colombia’s recognition, which follows the US making a similar move during Donald Trump’s first presidency.

In a statement, the Syrian ministry stressed that the Golan Heights is “occupied Syrian land” and an integral part of the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic.

It added that measures taken by Israel to alter the legal, demographic or administrative status of the Golan have no legal effect and are considered invalid.

Israel has occupied most of the Syrian Golan Heights since the June 1967 war and unilaterally annexed the territory in 1981, a move that has not received broad international recognition.

That same year, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 497, declaring Israel’s decision to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the occupied Syrian Golan Heights “null and void and without international legal effect.”