France on the Golan dispute: We respect the internationally recognized borders

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France entered the line of debate that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu re-ignited yesterday, Thursday, regarding the occupied Syrian Golan Heights.

French Foreign Ministry spokesman Pascal Confavro said, “The French position is clear in terms of respect for international law and internationally recognized borders.”

He also added in statements to Al-Arabiya/Al-Hadath on Friday: “The international force between Syria and Israel must be respected and not attacked.”

During his speech yesterday before the United Nations General Assembly, Netanyahu reiterated the allegations of his country’s “ownership of the Syrian Golan.” Calling on Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa to review religious books, the Israeli official said, “The Jews have been there since the time of the Prophet Moses,” claiming that this region belongs to the Israelis and they will not give it up.

In turn, Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz vowed two days ago that "the Golan will remain with Israel." Katz said in press statements that “the Golan will remain under Israeli sovereignty forever,” in response to Sharaa’s confirmation in his speech at the United Nations that this land is Syrian and will remain so.

All this controversy came after Al-Sharaa also explained in a symposium before the United Nations meetings that he told US President Donald Trump, “Why not give New Jersey to Israel instead of the Golan.” He stressed that the Golan Heights belong to the Syrian people, and no president, whether Syrian or foreign, can give what he does not own to another country.

Israel has occupied the Golan Heights since the June 1967 war, and announced its annexation in 1981.

But after the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in December 2024, Israeli forces penetrated outside the buffer zone adjacent to the Golan Heights, reaching Mount Hermon separating Lebanon and Syria, and announced their intention to establish a demilitarized zone in southern Syria.