Russia to Netanyahu: UN must approve Golan Heights status change
Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov tells PM Netanyahu UN Security Council must support any change concerning sovereignty over Golan Heights, otherwise, 'it would constitute as violation of existing accords'; PM: 'Israel in Golan Heights is a fact international community must acknowledge.'
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Wednesday that changing the status of the Golan Heights without the approval of the United Nations Security Council would constitute a violation of the existing accords, the Sputnik news agency reported.
Lavrov made his remarks after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the Golan Heights issue following Moscow's delivery of the S-300 anti-aircraft missile system to Syria.
"Israel in the Golan Heights is a guarantee for security. Israel in the Golan Heights is a fact the international community must acknowledge," Netanyahu said.
"As long as it depends on me, the Golan Heights will stay under Israeli sovereignty. Otherwise, Iran and Hezbollah will be sitting on the shores of the Sea of Galilee," he elaborated.
"We are witnessing ruthless barbarity across the border (with Syria) and ongoing attempts by Iran and Hezbollah to entrench there.
"We will stand strong agonist them. We are thwarting their attempts to establish in Syria and will continue operating with determination to prevent them from transferring advanced weapons to Hezbollah," Netanyahu went on to say.
"I will discuss the Golan Heights issue with my upcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"Russia and Israel have established good relations. President Putin understands the importance I attribute to the Golan Heights and to Israel's heritage," he concluded.
At the opening of the government meeting on Sunday, Netanyahu said he would meet Russian President Vladimir Putin soon to discuss continued security coordination over Syria.
He made the announcement without citing a specific date for the talks.
“Israel will constantly act to prevent Iran from entrenching itself militarily in Syria and transferring deadly weapons to Hezbollah in Lebanon,” he asserted.
Netanyahu has repeatedly said Israel will never renounce the Golan Heights.
In 2016, the government held a meeting there, during which the Israeli leader said, "It’s about time that the international community acknowledges that the Israel-Syrian border is not going to change, regardless of what will happen on the Syrian side."
Following Netanyahu's aforementioned remarks, Germany condemned them, and the US State Department declared that the Golan Heights are not part of Israel.
