Context: India has voted to support a draft resolution at the UN General Assembly, expressing concern with Israel’s failure to withdraw from the Syrian Golan Heights.

UNGA Resolution Over Syrian Golan Heights

• Draft resolution: The draft resolution ‘The Syrian Golan‘ was put to vote at the UN General Assembly, under the agenda item ‘The situation in the Middle East’.
• Voting on resolution:  The resolution, presented by Egypt, secured adoption through a recorded vote, garnering 91 in favor, eight against, and 62 abstentions.
• Supporting countries: In addition to India, countries that supported the resolution included Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Malaysia, Maldives, Nepal, Russia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and the United Arab Emirates. 
• Countries against the resolution: Australia, Canada, Israel, the UK, and the US voted against it.
• Israel’s failure: The resolution expressed deep concern over Israel’s failure to withdraw from the Syrian Golan Heights in violation of Security Council and General Assembly resolutions.
• No adherence to UNSC resolution 497: The resolution affirmed that Israel had not adhered to Security Council resolution 497 (1981).
  • The resolution asserted that the Israeli decision made on December 14, 1981, is deemed null and void and holds no validity. It urged Israel to revoke this decision.
• Resolution on Israeli settlements: The resolution emphasized the illegitimacy of Israeli settlement construction and other activities in the Syrian Golan Heights occupied since 1967. 
  • It called for Israel’s withdrawal from the entire occupied Syrian Golan in accordance with relevant Security Council resolutions. 

About Syrian Golan Region:

It is a region in southwest Syria that was occupied by Israeli forces on June 5, 1967.

For more information related to UNSC, refer to UNSC

News Source:  Economic Times