Israelis worried that U.N. may quit patrolling Syrian border

[bemildred]

JERUSALEM — Israeli officials said Sunday they were watching the Syrian border in the Golan Heights area with growing concern following the reported release of four U.N. peacekeepers held by Syrian rebels for five days.

The Israeli fear is that a deteriorating security situation will prompt countries to pull out their peacekeepers, leaving no buffer between Israeli and Syrian forces.

The officials said Croatian and Japanese troops have already left and they fear Filipinos and Austrians may be next. The four peacekeepers seized last week were Filipinos.

“We want them to stay,’’ said Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor. “They can’t prevent the war in Syria but they have an important role to play. If they disappear, it will just be Israel facing whatever or whoever is on the other side.”

http://www.latimes.com/news/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-israelis-un-syrian-border-20130512,0,6192545.story

[shaayecanaan]

1. It shits me when they say "Syrian border"

Its not the Syrian border. The Golan Heights is not disputed territory. According to UNSCR 497 it is Syrian territory. The "border" is a ceasefire line, nothing more.

Its fairly hypocritical to insist that peacekeepers should stay but at the same time launch attacks on Syrian territory. Either Israel is prepared to hold the peace or it isn't. You cannot insist that peacekeepers remain where they are in the absence of a peace.

[delrem]

2. +1

[bemildred]

3. Well yeah, apparently the UN is not completely useless.

That was why I posted it.

Although I do think it's worthwhile to have them there, it's going to get real ugly real fast if that border gets "hot".

I'm not touching the issue of borders yet, I have to drink my coffee first.
:coffee: