Syria Warns Israel Is Greatest Threat to Middle East Stability

Syria's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Qusay Al-Dahhak, declared on Tuesday that Israel represents the "greatest threat" to stability in the Middle East. This assertion was made during a United Nations Security Council meeting convened to discuss the situation in Syria. Al-Dahhak's statement framed the ongoing Israeli occupation and its actions as the primary destabilizing factor in the region, overshadowing other conflicts and tensions. He specifically criticized Israel's continued occupation of Syrian territories and its alleged aggressive actions, which he argued undermine regional peace and security. The envoy's remarks highlighted Syria's long-standing grievances against Israel, particularly concerning the Golan Heights, which Israel occupied in 1967 and later annexed, a move not recognized by the international community. The UNSC meeting, intended to address the broader Syrian crisis, including the ongoing civil war and humanitarian situation, instead saw a significant portion dedicated to the exchange between Syria and other member states regarding Israeli policy. Al-Dahhak's strong condemnation aimed to draw international attention to what Syria perceives as a critical, yet often under-addressed, source of regional instability. He urged the international community and the Security Council to take decisive action against what he termed Israeli "aggression" and its "expansionist policies." The Syrian envoy's statement also implicitly criticized the international community's perceived inaction or insufficient response to Israeli actions, suggesting a double standard in addressing regional conflicts. He emphasized that a lasting peace in the Middle East cannot be achieved without resolving the Palestinian issue and ending the Israeli occupation of Arab lands, including Syrian territory. The meeting's agenda was ostensibly focused on the political and humanitarian aspects of the Syrian conflict, but the sharp exchange between Syria and other delegations, particularly regarding Israel, underscored the complex geopolitical dynamics at play in the region. Al-Dahhak's address served as a direct appeal to the UNSC to uphold international law and UN resolutions concerning occupied territories and to hold Israel accountable for its actions, which he argued directly imperil the fragile stability of the Middle East. The Syrian government has consistently accused Israel of destabilizing the region through its military interventions and its ongoing occupation of Palestinian territories and the Golan Heights. This latest statement at the UN reiterates Syria's long-held position and seeks to elevate the discourse on Israeli actions as a paramount concern for regional security. The context of the meeting was the ongoing efforts to find a political solution to the Syrian civil war, which has been ongoing since 2011, and to address the severe humanitarian crisis affecting millions of Syrians. However, the Syrian delegation used the platform to highlight its view that external factors, particularly Israeli policy, are significant impediments to achieving lasting peace and stability not only for Syria but for the entire Middle East.