UN Assembly Demands Israel Withdraw From Occupied Syrian Golan Heights

The United Nations General Assembly has overwhelmingly approved a resolution calling on Israel to withdraw from the Syrian Golan Heights. The territory has been occupied since 1967. The non-binding resolution passed on Thursday with 123 nations voting in favor. Only seven countries, including Israel and the United States, voted against it. Forty-one member states abstained. Egypt authored the draft text, which declares the Israeli occupation of the strategic plateau null and void. It demands Israel return the land to Syrian control, reverting to the pre-1967 boundary line. The annual resolution reflects the international community's longstanding position on the issue. Israel annexed the Golan Heights in 1981, a move not recognized by most nations. Israeli officials maintain control is essential for national security.