Daijiworld Media Network - Gaza

Gaza, Dec 3: The United Nations General Assembly has adopted a resolution calling for Israel to withdraw from the Golan Heights, reigniting a long-standing territorial dispute rooted in the 1967 conflict.

In a vote held on Tuesday, 123 member states supported the resolution, seven opposed, and 41 abstained, reflecting ongoing international divisions over the strategic plateau currently under Israeli control.

Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, sharply criticised the decision, terming it disconnected from ground realities.

“Instead of addressing the crimes of the Iranian axis and militias in Syria, the UN demands Israel give up a vital defense line,” he said, reaffirming Israel’s stance that it will “never return to the 1967 lines or abandon the Golan.”

The Golan Heights, captured by Israel during the Six-Day War in 1967 and later annexed, remains one of the region’s most sensitive geopolitical flashpoints. The international community has broadly refused to recognise Israel’s annexation.

Reacting to the vote, the Syrian Foreign Ministry welcomed the resolution, describing it as a firm reminder that land seized by force cannot be legitimized under international law. Syria reiterated its longstanding demand for Israel to withdraw fully to the June 4, 1967 boundary.

Damascus further noted a significant shift in voting patterns, thanking a number of nations — including France, Germany, Spain, Sweden, Norway and several others — that moved from abstaining to supporting the resolution this year.

As tensions persist and diplomatic efforts continue, observers say the Golan Heights issue is likely to remain a central challenge in Middle East peace negotiations, with both sides standing firm on what they consider non-negotiable security and sovereignty concerns.