Israel’s changing of the Golan Heights’ status “without the approval of the UN Security Council would consist of a violation of existing agreements,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov claimed.
By Jack Gold, World Israel News
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov dismissed Israel’s claims for sovereignty in the Golan Heightswhen he stated Wednesday that “changing the status of the Golan Heights without the approval of the UN Security Council would consist of a violation of existing agreements,” Israel’s Ynet news reported.
Lavrov was responding to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s statements on Monday that Israel’s presence on the Golan Heights is “a guarantee for stability in the surrounding area.”
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. (AP/Pavel Golovkin)
“The Golan Heights will always remain under Israeli sovereignty because otherwise we would have Iran and Hezbollah on the shores of the Kinneret [lake],” Netanyahu stated.
Israel’s presence “is a solid reality based on ancient rights” and “a fact that the international community must recognize,” he said.
While “Iran and Hezbollah are trying constantly to establish a force opposite us that would operate against the Golan Heights and the Galilee,” Israel is “thwarting this and as long as it depends on me we will continue to do so,” the prime minister stressed.
“We will continue to act with determination against Iran’s attempts to open an additional front against us on the Golan Heights, and in Syria we will act against all attempts to transfer lethal weapons to Hezbollah in Lebanon,” he added.
‘Putin understands importance Israel ascribes to Golan’
Netanyahu is slated to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the near future to discuss the latest developments in the region, particularly since the September 17th downing of a Russian reconnaissance plane by Syrian forces who were responding to an Israeli air strike – a friendly fire incident that stoked regional tensions.
“I decided with President Putin on the important security coordination between the IDF and the Russian military, and of course together we have developed good relations between Russia and Israel,” Netanyahu stated Monday.
“I know that President Putin understands my commitment to the security of Israel and I know that he also understands the importance that I ascribe to the Golan Heights, that we all ascribe to the Golan Heights and to the heritage of Israel,” the Israeli premier underscored.
Speaking at the beginning of the weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday, Netanyahu said that he spoke with Putin.
“We agreed to meet soon in order to continue the important inter-military security coordination. Israel will act at all times to prevent Iran from establishing a military presence in Syria and to thwart the transfer of lethal weapons to Hezbollah in Lebanon,” he declared.
Israel has repeatedly asserted its right to sovereignty in the Golan Heights, citing ancient and historic bonds as well as security necessities as a reason for its presence there.
Speaking in April 2016 during Israel’s first-ever Cabinet meeting held in the Golan Heights, held in honor of the 34th Government’s first year in offices, Netanyahu stated that that Israel will never withdraw from the area under any circumstances.
“The Golan Heights have been an integral part of the Land of Israel since ancient times; the dozens of ancient synagogues in the area around us attest to this,” Netanyahu stated. Israel’s historical roots on the Golan run back over three millennia.
Netanyahu said he chose to hold this festive Cabinet meeting on the Golan Heights “in order to deliver a clear message: The Golan Heights will forever remain in Israel’s hands. Israel will never come down from the Golan Heights.”
The Golan Heights is crucial for Israel’s security on its northern border, and therefore “the time has come for the international community to recognize reality,” he said.
俄罗斯外交部长谢尔盖拉夫罗夫声称，以色列未经联合国安理会批准，改变戈兰高地的地位将违反现有协议。
杰克金，世界以色列新闻
以色列的Ynet新闻报道，俄罗斯外交部长谢尔盖拉夫罗夫周三表示，“在未经联合国安理会批准的情况下改变戈兰高地的地位将构成违反现有协议的行为”，以此谴责以色列在戈兰高地的主权要求。
拉夫罗夫周一回应了本杰明内塔尼亚胡总理的声明，即以色列在戈兰高地的存在是“周边地区稳定的保证”。
俄罗斯外交部长谢尔盖拉夫罗夫
俄罗斯外交部长谢尔盖拉夫罗夫。 （AP / Pavel Golovkin）
内塔尼亚胡说：“戈兰高地将永远处于以色列主权之下，否则我们将把伊朗和真主党置于基内雷特湖的岸边。”
以色列的存在“是基于古老权利的坚实现实”和“国际社会必须承认的事实”，他说。
虽然“伊朗和真主党正在不断努力在我们对面建立一支对抗戈兰高地和加利利的军队”，但以色列“挫败了这一点，只要依靠我，我们将继续这样做”，总理强调。
他补充说：“我们将继续坚定地采取行动，反对伊朗企图在戈兰高地开辟另一条反对我们的阵线。在叙利亚，我们将采取行动反对向黎巴嫩的真主党转移致命武器的所有企图。”
普京明白以色列对戈兰的重视
内塔尼亚胡计划在不久的将来会见俄罗斯总统弗拉基米尔普京，讨论该地区的最新发展，特别是自9月17日叙利亚军队正在响应以色列空袭的一架俄罗斯侦察机 – 一场友好的火灾事件这引发了地区紧张局势。
内塔尼亚胡周一表示：“我决定与普京总统就以色列国防军与俄罗斯军队之间的重要安全协调进行协调，当然我们共同建立了俄罗斯与以色列之间的良好关系。”
“我知道普京总统理解我对以色列安全的承诺，我知道他也理解我归于戈兰高地的重要性，我们都归功于戈兰高地和以色列的遗产，”以色列总理下划线。
内塔尼亚胡在周日每周内阁会议开始时说，他与普京谈过。
“我们同意尽快举行会议，以继续进行重要的军事间安全协调。以色列将始终采取行动，阻止伊朗在叙利亚建立军事存在，并阻止将致命武器转移到黎巴嫩的真主党，“他宣称。
以色列一再声称其在戈兰高地拥有主权，并援引古代和历史债券以及安全必需品作为其存在的理由。
2016年4月，在以色列首次在戈兰高地举行的内阁会议上，为纪念第34届政府在办公室工作的第一年，内塔尼亚胡表示以色列在任何情况下都不会退出该地区。
“自古以来，戈兰高地一直是以色列土地的组成部分;我们周围地区的数十座古老犹太教堂证实了这一点，“内塔尼亚胡说。以色列在戈兰的历史根源可追溯到三千多年前。
内塔尼亚胡说，他选择在戈兰高地举行这次节日内阁会议，“以便传达一个明确的信息：戈兰高地将永远留在以色列手中。以色列永远不会从戈兰高地下来。“
戈兰高地对以色列在其北部边境的安全至关重要，因此“现在是国际社会认识现实的时候了”，他说。