Diplomat takes Syria to task for entering Golan DMZ

Syria’s incursion to the demilitarized buffer zone on Israel’s border last week during clashes with opposition forces was a violation of international agreements, Israel’s deputy ambassador to the UN said on Wednesday night. He noted that reports of the relocation of chemical weapons were being carefully followed.

The situation in Syria could affect Israel, Haim Waxman told the UN Security Council. On Sunday Israel filed a complaint saying Syrian forces entered the demilitarized zones. Israel’s deputy ambassador called the move “a blatant violation of the agreements” between the countries.

Israel is following the reports of Syria moving its chemical weapons around the country. The international community must assert that such weapons reaching terrorist organizations would be “a red line that must not be crossed.”

Waxman stressed the close ties and cooperation between Syria, Iran and Hezbollah. Iran and Hezbollah are “part of Assad’s killing machine,” he said, providing the regime in Damascus with arms, logistical equipment and intelligence.

Iran and its proxy Hezbollah “help with the brutal suppression of the Syrian opposition,” and seek to sustain the rule of President Bashar Assad at any cost, Waxman told the council.

The deputy ambassador also reiterated Israel’s accusation of Iran in last week’s bombing in Burgas, in which five Israelis and a Bulgarian bus driver were killed.

“Iranian terror has spread to five continents and tens of countries,” Waxman said, calling for the world community to take action against the Islamic republic.

Waxman was responding to an Iranian claim that Israel had engineered the bombing to win diplomatic brownie points.

Waxman also attacked the UN, which he said was ignoring the real problems in the Arab world. “It’s time to stop blaming Israel for all the problems in the Middle East,” he said.