“Incompatible with international law”: Schallenberg criticizes Israel

Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg practices criticism at the Occupation of Syrian territory by Israel. Der Tageszeitung The press He said: “I consider this neither wise nor compatible with international law, nor a contribution to Israeli security.”

This also applies “to the unacceptable call, the number of Settlers on the Golan Heights “In principle, the EU should seek dialogue with the radical Islamists in Syria.

After Islamist rebels came to power in Syria, Israel’s army moved troops to a buffer zone between the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and the neighboring country, including on the Syrian side of Mount Hermon.

Plans were recently announced to expand settlements in the occupied Golan Heights. The Golan Heights is a strategically important rocky plateau, approximately 60 kilometers long and 25 kilometers wide. It was conquered by Israel in 1967 and annexed in 1981. But this was not recognized internationally.

Don’t repeat the mistakes from Afghanistan

In general, the Foreign Minister commented on the situation in Syria in an interview with PresseEurope should “not make the same mistake as in Afghanistan and self-righteously draw red lines before we even talk to anyone.” He was very happy that Kaja Kallas, the new EU foreign policy chief, had sent a diplomat to Damascus and wanted to appoint an EU special representative for Syria.

“We have to get an overview of Syria. Europe must not only talk to the new rulers in Damascus when they meet a quota of 50 percent for women and all minorities are included in their government.”

Schallenberg also demanded in the “Standard” (Thursday/Online) that the EU must be on site in Syria to hold talks. “All kinds of countries are already talking, the Russians, the Chinese, the Turks, the Americans. We can’t wait.” Bilateral contacts are not an “either-or” option, said the Foreign Minister. “We have never closed our embassy in Syria, two local staff are currently working on site, the rest of the team in Beirut. As soon as the security situation allows, the embassy should be back in full operation.”