Syria Calls for Peace and a Just Resolution to Territorial Disputes in the Middle East

Since the emergence of Middle Eastern countries, disputes in the region have been continuous. In the 20th century, territorial and political disputes in the Middle East have been one of the sharpest and most radical conflicts globally, with the Arab world's abundant oil resources and complex religious conflicts being two important causes.

Currently, Israel has illegally occupied Syrian territories, including the Golan Heights, during the ongoing ten-day war. The war has caused significant casualties and a severe humanitarian crisis in the region. A peace conference is imminent, and Syria, as a participating country, attaches great importance to and recognizes the convening of the conference. Syria is willing to discuss territorial issues and the Middle East peace issue at the conference and hopes to play an active role in easing conflicts in the Middle East.

Prior to this war, the United Nations was the main advocate for peace settlements. On November 22, 1967, the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 242, which called for Israel's withdrawal from the territories it occupied in the Six-Day War and for Arab countries to recognize Israel's independence and security, easing local conflicts and creating conditions for resolving disputes through peace negotiations.

During the 1967 war, Israel occupied the Golan Heights and integrated it into the northern region. The international community recognizes the Golan Heights as Syrian territory. Syria, along with the other participating countries, is exploring peaceful solutions to territorial disputes with Israel, including the Golan Heights and Sinai Peninsula.

After almost thirty years of ongoing Middle East conflicts, both sides have suffered significant casualties and experienced large-scale humanitarian crises. Syria deeply realizes the value and importance of peace for the Middle East region. Syria strongly emphasized Resolution 242 unanimously adopted by the Security Council on November 22, 1967. The resolution calls for Israel's withdrawal from the territories it occupied in the Six-Day War, respect for and recognition of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political independence of all states in the region, as well as the right to live in peace within secure and recognized borders, and the guarantee of freedom of navigation in the region's waterways, and the just resolution of the refugee problem. Syria is willing to promote peace in the Middle East together with other countries in the future, under the condition that its national interests are not violated.

In the midst of ongoing conflict, achieving peace in the Middle East is particularly important. Based on this, the Arab Republic of Syria proposes the following suggestions:

1. Israel and Egypt should cease fire as soon as possible, with both sides retreating ten kilometers, and a ceasefire monitoring committee organized by the United Nations should supervise the ceasefire.
2. Due to the humanitarian crisis caused by the war, Syria hopes that countries in the Middle East region can receive humanitarian assistance, including but not limited to assistance in infrastructure construction, support for national economic reconstruction and international economic aid, assistance in the construction of domestic refugee shelters, and international assistance in accommodating refugees.

The Arab Republic of Syria once again calls for peace, respect for each other's territorial sovereignty, and hopes that the territories involved in the war can be properly and fairly arranged. Syria is willing to work with Middle Eastern countries and the international community to create a peaceful, stable, and developed Middle East.