Pakistan condemns decision to recognise Israel’s control over Golan Heights

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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Foreign Office on Wednesday condemned the United States’ decision to recognise Israel’s sovereignty over Syria’s Golan Heights– a disputed region as per the United Nations, calling the decision a “serious blow to the rule of law and international norms”.

US President Donald Trump, flanked by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on March 25, had signed a proclamation recognising Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights, reversing more than a half-century of US policy.

Netanyahu had pressed for such recognition for months. Trump’s action gives him a political boost weeks before what’s expected to be a close Israeli election.

According to a FO statement, “This decision represents a serious violation of [the] UN Charter, international law and applicable UN Security Council Resolutions.”

“Pakistan shares the international outrage and is deeply concerned over the potentially grave repercussions of this decision for the region and beyond,” the press release said.

Pakistan has called upon the UN Security Council to take cognisance of the situation and take steps in accordance with the UN Charter, the FO announced.

Israel captured the Golan from Syria in the 1967 Mideast war but its sovereignty over the territory is not recognised by the international community.