United Nations, June.26 (SANA) Syria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ibrahim Olabi, said that while Syrians and much of the world celebrated the fall of “brutal regime” on December 8, residents of areas into which Israeli forces had carried out an incursion were unable to share those celebrations.
Addressing the UN Security Council, Olabi pointed out that during his visit to those areas, residents repeatedly complained about the Israeli incursions, temporary detentions and interference in their daily lives, which, he said, had heightened their sense of insecurity.
He argued that earlier claims describing Israel’s presence as temporary and linked to developments in Syria were no longer justified, adding that Syria had become one of the region’s most stable countries and was focused on reconstruction, restoring state institutions, attracting investment, cooperating with international partners on counter-terrorism and chemical weapons obligations, and strengthening regional security.
Olabi questioned whether the political change in Syria which overthrown an authoritarian regime accused of using chemical weapons against its own people—was the development Israel had feared, asking whether Israel had preferred the continuation of the previous status quo.
He said Syria’s call for increased support to the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) reflected Damascus’ commitment to the 1974 Disengagement Agreement, arguing that a country seeking confrontation would not call for stronger international monitoring while, according to reports submitted to the Security Council, Israel continued to violate the agreement.
Olabi described recent Israeli statements indicating that Israel would never withdraw from Syrian territory as “deeply concerning,” particularly as the United States, under President Donald Trump’s administration, was conducting mediation efforts between Syria and Israel.
He concluded by saying that the Security Council discusses the issue every six months and that Syria would continue to raise it until stability is restored, adding that Damascus was fulfilling its responsibilities and that “the time has come for Israel to fulfil its responsibilities as well.”
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