Syria: Israel has built 'racist' fence

Syria told the United Nations Israel has violated U.N. agreements and harmed Golan Heights residents by building a "racist separation fence," Haaretz reported. A letter, submitted Aug. 8 by Bashar Ja'afari, Syria's ambassador to the U.N., to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon,, accused Israel of trying to separate the Syrian-Druze population in the "occupied" Golan Heights by constructing a fence and creating other problems that could affect future negotiations, Haaretz said Monday. "As instructed by my government, I wish to relay to you a complaint that the Israeli occupation authorities have begun the construction of a racist separation fence on the occupied Syrian-Golan," the newspaper quoted the letter as saying. "This fence is creating negative implications on the lives of the citizens on the occupied Golan. This is the continuation of an aggressive Israeli policy against the citizens of the Golan, which includes expulsions, arrests and heavy fines," the letter states. Ja'afari said the fence constructed east of the Golan Heights village of Majdal Shams is "to prevent Palestinians and Syrians from crossing the cease-fire line and reaching the occupied village of Majdal Shams." The letter said construction of the fence is further proof of "the continuation of an aggressive Israeli policy against the citizens of the Golan" and accuses Israel of violating the U.N. agreements. Israel, in advance of a Palestinian statehood vote scheduled next month, has initiated a number of procedures along the border with Syria to boost its security, including erection of a stronger fence and setting new minefields to prevent Palestinian or Syrian protesters from crossing into Israel.