S. Africa voices concern over U.S. decision on Golan Heights

South Africa on Tuesday joined the international community in expressing concerns over the U.S. administration's decision to recognize Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights.

Israeli soldiers sit in a position on the border with Syria on the Golan Heights as smoke rises following explosions of mortar shells, July 16, 2013. [File photo: AP/Ariel Schalit]

The unilateral decision by the U.S. government in this regard represents a serious violation of the UN Charter, international law and applicable United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions, particularly Resolution 497, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) said.

Such unilateral declarations constitute a severe setback to the rule of law and international norms, DIRCO said in a statement.

On March 25, U.S. President Donald Trump signed a proclamation recognizing Israel's sovereignty over the disputed Golan Heights, marking a major shift in U.S. policy in the Middle East.

The Golan Heights was seized by Israel from Syria during the Six-Day War in 1967. In 1981, Israel passed a law that effectively annexed it - a move that remains unrecognized internationally.

The South African government will not support any unilateral action by the U.S. government that undermines efforts of creating peace and stability in the Middle East, DIRCO said.

South Africa calls upon the UNSC to exercise its mandate in preserving international peace and security and implement its relevant resolutions, supported by International Law, to restore the Golan Heights, an integral part of the Syrian territory, from Israeli occupation, DIRCO said.