Gulf nations condemn Israel’s settlement expansion in occupied Golan Heights

Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) condemned a decision by Israel on Sunday to expand settlement building in the occupied Syrian Golan Heights.

The UAE warned that the move will lead to increased tensions and an escalation in the region.

In a statement issued by its Foreign Ministry, the decision was described as a step toward perpetuating the occupation and a violation of international law and regulations.

The ministry reaffirmed the UAE's commitment to Syria's unity, independence and territorial integrity, emphasizing its support for the preservation of these principles.

The UAE also expressed its firm opposition to any actions or activities aimed at altering the legal status of the occupied Golan Heights which threaten Syria's security, sovereignty and stability.

The Saudi Foreign Ministry in a statement reiterated the kingdom's condemnation of Israel's ongoing actions "to sabotage Syria's opportunities for security and stability."

It called on the international community to condemn the Israeli violations and emphasized the necessity "of respecting Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity."

"The Golan is an occupied Arab Syrian land," the ministry stressed.

The Qatari Foreign Ministry called the Israeli decision "a new episode in a series of Israeli aggressions on Syrian territories and a blatant violation of international law."

It underlined "the urgent need for the international community to fulfill its legal and moral responsibilities to compel the Israeli occupation to cease its aggressions on Syrian territories and comply with international legitimacy resolutions, in addition to showing solidarity against its opportunistic schemes."

The ministry stressed "Qatar's...