Syria to the UN: Israel continues to be above the law

Syria's permanent representative at the United Nations, Faisal Miqdad, has stressed that the Israeli aggression on the Syrian civilian site is a flagrant violation of the United Nations charter, the international law and of the agreement of disengagement forces between Syria and Israel signed in 1974.

In a statement he delivered in front of the UN Security Council (UNSC ) session held yesterday upon the request of Syria for discussing the Israeli aggression on a Syrian civilian site, Miqdad expressed satisfaction over the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan statement denouncing the Israeli aggressive act and expressing his restless regarding the possibility of more escalation of tension in the region.

Miqdad said that the Israeli aggression against a Syrian village "is a direct and real embodiment of the Israeli terrorism which Israeli claims combating it."

"This terrorist act is another evidence that the massacres perpetrated by Israel under the pretext of combating the so-called terrorism are no more than a big lie and (a) claim to justify its expansionist and settlement policy." Miqdad said.

He added that the Israeli aggression comes in the framework of the Israeli government strategic policy for escalating the situation in the Middle East at the time the international Community exerts efforts for reaching to a just and comprehensive solution in the Middle East to realize peace.

"It is clear worldwide that it is incredible that Syria who respected and adhered to disengagement forces agreement since 1974 till now, and that the unarmed Palestinian civilians who suffer the occupation, are carrying out acts that threatens any side, especially since the Palestinians possess no army and military arsenal that is comparable to the ones Israel possesses'' Meqdad said.

Miqdad wondered how long will Israel continue to depict itself as a victim when at the time it occupies other peoples' lands by force, demolishes their houses and assassinates their sons.

Miqdad pointed out to the Israeli unjustified, previous violation of the demilitarized zone in January, 7, 2003 causing death of a Syrian policeman where the report issued by the UN force stressed that the aggression was unjustified and that Syria practiced the highest level of self-restraint.

Miqdad mentioned that "the Arab states and others all over the world feel as if Israel is a state over the law and immune from observing the Security Council resolutions due to its violations of the international agreements and disregard of international law."

He pointed out that Israel's record regarding the respect of the international law "is not an honorable one, as Israel has violated UN resolutions since 1948Ê including the resolutions No 191 pertaining to the establishment of the Palestinian state, 194 pertaining to the Palestinian refugees right of home return, resolutions 242 and 338 aiming at the realization of just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East."

Miqdad underlined that the Israeli current government, through its continuous aggression on the Palestinians andÊ"expanding its aggression to include Syria and Lebanon, renewed the fact that it is a war government and not a peace one."

Miqdad repeated in front of the Security Council what was included in the Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara letter to the UN SC which stressed that "Syria is not incapable to create a resisting and deterring balance that forces Israel andÊ to reconsider its calculations." The letter also included that Syria has practiced the highest level of self-restraint realizing that "Israel is trying to create pretexts here and there to export its internal crisis to the region and to escalate the situation." Miqdad underlined that Syria came to the Security Council to reiterate her adherence to the international resolutions.