Syrian UNHRC envoy: Israel aiding al-Qaida-linked terrorists

“The military aggression by Israel inside Syrian land on the 17th of March is a proof of the support Israel provides to terrorist groups,” ambassador charges.

By TOVAH LAZAROFF
Members of al-Qaida's‏ Nusra Front [File] (photo credit: REUTERS)
Members of al-Qaida's‏ Nusra Front [File]
(photo credit: REUTERS)
Israel is helping terrorist groups in Syria including al-Qaida splinter group al-Nusra, Syrian Ambassador to the United Nations Human Rights Council Hussam Edin Aala charged in Geneva on Monday as he condemned the Israeli Air Force strike last Friday against military targets in his country.
“The military aggression by Israel inside Syrian land on the 17th of March is a proof of the support Israel provides to terrorist groups,” Aala said.
“This aggression for us is a violation of the charter of the United Nation, international law and UN Security Council resolutions. It is a great threat of international peace and security,” he said.
IDF forces fire on ISIS operatives on Golan (credit: IDF Spokesperson"s Unit)
Israel has said the airstrike was necessary to stop the flow of weapons to Hezbollah. It is concerned by the actions of both Hezbollah and Iran in Syria, particularly near Israel’s borders in the Golan Heights.
“When we detect attempts to transfer advanced weapons to Hezbollah, and we have the intelligence and feasibility to carry out an operation, we will work to prevent it,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday.
At the UNHRC, however, Aala alleged that Israel was helping the rebel group the al-Nusra Front. The group is fighting the Syrian government forces of President Bashar Assad, but also has ties to al-Qaida.
Separately, Aala also attacked Israel for treating wounded Syrians in its hospitals.
“It [Israel] wants to give a humanitarian face to the way it has treated terrorists from al-Nusra in Israeli hospitals,” Aala said.
He further called on Israel to withdraw from the Golan Heights, which it captured from Syria in the Six Day War.
The UNHRC is expected to pass a resolution at the end of this week that echoes that calls. It does so at every session.

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Israel annexed the Golan Heights in 1981 and during his trip to Washington last month Netanyahu asked the Trump administration to recognize the Golan Heights as part of Israel.