Security Council extends UN observer force in Golan Heights

The Security Council today extended for a further six months the mandate of the UN force monitoring the long-standing ceasefire between Israel and Syria in the Golan Heights.

In a unanimously adopted resolution, the 15-member Council decided to renew the mandate of the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) until 31 December 2007, as recommended by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in his latest report on the Force’s activities.

While acknowledging that the situation in the Israel-Syria sector has remained generally quiet, Mr. Ban said he considered the continued presence of the 1,000-strong Force essential.

He added that the situation in the region was likely to remain tense “unless and until a comprehensive settlement covering all aspects of the Middle East problem can be reached.”

The Force has, for the past 33 years, supervised the disengagement accord between Syrian and Israeli forces after the 1973 war.