Arab countries hold off on UN action over US move on Golan

US President Donald Trump hands his pen to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after signing a proclamation recognising the Golan as Israeli territory despite UN resolutions that state the strategic plateau is Syrian. (AFP/SAUL LOEB)

Tunisian Foreign Minister Khemaies Jhinaoui said there was "no need" for the time being to press for further action that would have reaffirmed UN resolutions that call on Israel to withdraw from the Golan.

Trump was sharply criticised when he signed a proclamation last month in which the United States recognized Israel's annexation of the strategic plateau that it seized from Syria in 1967 and annexed in 1981.

"The Security Council has already adopted a resolution," Jhinaoui told reporters, citing Resolution 497 which declared Israel's annexation nul and void.

"That resolution is very clear that this is a territory occupied by Israel and has to be liberated, so there is no need to go, I think, no need now," he said when asked about a possible new resolution.

Arab League Ambassador Maged Abdelaziz said the US decision would be discussed at a meeting between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Arab ministers in Moscow next week.

At an Arab League summit in Tunis last month, leaders slammed the US decision to recognize the Golan as Israeli territory, which comes after Trump's decision in 2017 to declare Jerusalem to be Israel's capital.

Syria did not attend that summit as it was suspended from the Arab League in 2011.

At a Security Council meeting last month held at Syria's request, Trump's decision was denounced as a violation of international law as enshrined in UN resolutions.

The four other permanent council members - Britain, China, France and Russia - said they would continue to view the Golan as Israeli-occupied territory.

After Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital, a group of Arab countries presented a resolution condemning the decision to the General Assembly, which won overwhelming support.

The US decision to recognize the Golan comes as Washington's European and Arab allies are keenly awaiting US proposals for a Middle East peace plan.