Riyadh, Dec 16
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar condemned the Israeli government's approval of a plan to expand settlements in the occupied Golan Heights.
The Saudi Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the decision is a continuation of efforts to sabotage Syria's chances of restoring its security and stability, news agency reported.
The ministry stressed the need to respect Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The UAE warned in a statement by its Ministry of Foreign Affairs that the Israeli actions could exacerbate tensions in the region.
"The UAE categorically rejects all measures and practices aimed at altering the legal status of the occupied Golan Heights," the statement said, stressing that expanding Israeli settlements in Golan Heights poses a direct threat to the security, stability, and sovereignty of Syria.
In a statement, Qatar's Foreign Ministry called the decision "a new episode in a series of Israeli aggressions on Syrian territories and a blatant violation of international law."