Reference to the recent dangerous statements launched by the Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu that the Golan Heights will always remain in Israel’s hands, and Israel will never withdraw from the Golan Heights. Netanyahu called, during his speech on 17April 2016, the Israeli government to hold its weekly meetings in Golan Heights.

Hence, the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs reaffirms that such escalating and provoking statements is violating the principles of the International law, the UN resolutions and the League of Arab States’ decisions. These irresponsible statements also hinder any peaceful efforts to reach a settlement for the Arab-Israeli conflict.

In that Context, ECFA assures its absolute support for the right of the Arab Republic of Syria in restoring its occupied Golan Heights to the fourth of June 1967 line, based on the foundations of the peace process and the Arab peace initiative and legitimate international resolutions.

ECFA confirms its full support for the collective decision No. 8041 issued by the Council of the League of Arab States at the level of permanent delegates in an extraordinary session about the Golan on 21 April 2016 that demands the international community represented in the UN Security Council to take the necessary measures to force Israel to take its full commitment of implementing the UN General Assembly and UN Security Council relevant resolutions. ECFA supports, in particular, resolution No. 497/1981 which rejects the imposition of Israeli laws in the Golan Heights and considers them null and void, in addition to the resolutions of the UN Council for Human Rights issued in this regard. ECFA also calls Israel to implement the provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 to the citizens of the occupied Golan Heights.

Date: 24^th April 2016