Arab countries met at the United Nations to discuss US President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize the Israeli annexation of the occupied Golan Heights, but no decision was made about proposing a UN resolution condemning the US move, diplomats said.
Tunisian Foreign Minister Khemaies Jhinaoui said there is currently no need to pressure for further action to reaffirm the UN resolution calling on Israel to withdraw from the Golan.
“The Security Council has already adopted a resolution,” Jhinaoui told reporters, citing Resolution 497, which declared Israel’s annexation claims null and void.
“That resolution saying this is a territory occupied by Israel and has to be liberated is very clear, so there is no need to take action, I think, no need now,” he said when asked about a possible new resolution.
Arab League Ambassador Maged Abdelaziz said the US decision would be discussed at a meeting between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Arab ministers in Moscow next week.
At an Arab League summit in Tunis last month, leaders slammed Trump’s decision in December 2017 to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
Notably, Syria didn’t attend the meeting because its membership was still suspended by the AL.
At a Security Council meeting last month held at Syria’s request, Trump’s decision was denounced as a violation of international law as enshrined in UN resolutions.
The four other permanent council members — Britain, China, France, and Russia — said they would continue to view the Golan as Israeli-occupied territory.
Trump was widely criticized when he signed a declaration last month, in which the United States recognized Israel’s annexation of the Syrian Golan Heights it had occupied in 1967.