MIDDLE EAST: Israel voices hope that the pulling out of Austrian peacekeepers won't bring further escalation to the region

Record ID: 397803

  • Title: MIDDLE EAST: Israel voices hope that the pulling out of Austrian peacekeepers won't bring further escalation to the region
  • Date: 6th June 2013
  • Summary: GOLAN HEIGHTS (JUNE 6, 2013) (REUTERS) SIGN READING IN ENGLISH 'UNDOF CAMP ZIOUANI' NEAR UNITED NATIONS CAMP UN CAMP BORDER FENCE VARIOUS OF SMOKE BILLOWING JERUSALEM (JUNE 6, 2013) (REUTERS) SIGN READING IN ENGLISH "STATE OF ISRAEL MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS" ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON YIGAL PALMOR TALKING TO REPORTER SIGN READING IN ENGLISH, HEBREW AND ARABI
  • Embargoed: 21st June 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Syrian Arab Republic
  • Country: Syria
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA31YQI0NKZ8O4WZ82LNL8GQBUM
  • Story Text: Israel said on Thursday (June 6) it regrets Austria's decision to withdraw its peacekeepers from a U.N. force in the Golan Heights and hopes the move will not lead to further escalation of conflict along the Syrian frontier.

    "We naturally appreciate Austria's longtime contribution to peacekeeping in the Middle East but we also regret this latest decision by the Austrian government to withdraw their forces from UNDOF on the Golan Heights. We hope that this decision will not be conducive to a further escalation in the region," the Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesperson Yigal Palmor said.
    Local media reported that the Israeli military strengthened its forces in the area.
    Austria said earlier on Thursday it will withdraw its peacekeepers from the U.N. monitoring force on the Golan Heights (UNDOF) given worsening fighting between Syrian government forces and rebels.
    Austrians account for about 380 of the 1,000-strong U.N. force monitoring a ceasefire between Syria and Israel, and their departure will deal a serious blow to the mission.
    Austria's decision came hours after Syrian rebels seized a U.N.-manned border crossing linking Syria and Israel. Israeli security sources later reported Syrian troops had retaken it after heavy fighting.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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