France demands Israeli withdrawal from Golan Heights buffer zone
Israeli soldiers from the Golani brigade take part in a military drill in the Golan Heights, northern Israel, May 22, 2024 (photo credit: MICHAEL GILADI/FLASH90)
France has called on Israel to withdraw its military forces from the buffer zone separating the annexed Golan Heights from Syrian territory, citing violations of the 1974 disengagement agreement.
“Any military deployment in the separation zone between Israel and Syria is a violation of the disengagement agreement of 1974,” a French foreign ministry spokesperson stated on Wednesday.
The appeal follows Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s announcement on Sunday that he had directed the army to “seize” the demilitarized zone on the Syrian-controlled side of the Golan Heights after Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was ousted by rebels.
France emphasized the need for Israel to “respect Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity” and urged the immediate withdrawal of forces. The United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF), which patrols the area, has also warned that the Israeli incursion violates the agreement that ended the 1973 war with Syria.
According to a UN official speaking anonymously, Israeli forces have taken over seven positions within the buffer zone. International reactions have been swift, with Saudi Arabia, Iran, Russia, and Turkey condemning the move. The United States has also called for the incursion to be “temporary.”
