Oman Condemns Colombian Recognition of Israeli Sovereignty over Golan
The Sultanate of Oman has formally expressed its strong condemnation of the Colombian government’s decision to recognize what it termed as Israeli sovereignty over the occupied Syrian Golan. In a statement issued by the Omani Foreign Ministry, the Sultanate emphasized that the decision constitutes a clear violation of international law and runs counter to established international resolutions regarding the status of the territory.
Oman reiterated its unwavering position that the Golan remains an occupied Syrian territory, affirming its full support for the sovereignty of the Syrian Arab Republic over all its lands and the preservation of its territorial integrity. The statement also called upon all nations to strictly adhere to the United Nations Charter, the principles of international law, and all relevant international resolutions. Specifically, the ministry highlighted United Nations Security Council Resolution 497, adopted in December 1981, as the cornerstone for the legal status of the region.
Resolution 497, which serves as the international legal benchmark in this matter, declared the Israeli decision to impose its laws, jurisdiction, and administration in the occupied Syrian Golan to be null, void, and without international legal effect. The Security Council at the time demanded that the occupying power rescind its unilateral actions immediately.
The Colombian government’s move has drawn widespread condemnation from both regional and international actors, who reaffirmed that the Golan is Syrian land currently under Israeli occupation. Damascus has also responded by categorically rejecting the decision, labeling the stance taken by the Colombian government as a blatant violation of the UN Charter and an affront to Syria’s territorial sovereignty. The Syrian government remains firm in its position that the Golan is an inseparable and integral part of its national territory, emphasizing that unilateral recognition by foreign states holds no legal weight under the framework of the United Nations.
The diplomatic backlash underscores the continued importance of the Golan issue within international forums and the insistence by the Syrian government and its regional allies that any change to the status of the occupied territory without a comprehensive settlement is illegitimate. As tensions over such diplomatic recognitions persist, the international community continues to reference the 1981 Security Council mandate as the primary legal obstacle to any attempts to normalize the occupation of the territory.
