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New Zealand extends commitment to UN peacekeeping in Golan Heights

Xinhua, September 29, 2016 Adjust font size:

The New Zealand military contribution to the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Golan Heights has been extended until September 2018, Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee said Thursday.

"The United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation is the United Nations' oldest peacekeeping operation, and is an important and visible mission to help preserve peace between Israel and its neighbors," Brownlee said in a statement.

"The New Zealand Defence Force has been a longstanding and respected contributor since 1954 through the monitoring role played by our military observers."

The renewed commitment would see eight personnel continue to support the mission, which was New Zealand's largest current contribution to a UN-led peacekeeping operation.

"Our personnel are serving under the experienced leadership of New Zealand's former Chief of Army Major General Dave Gawn, who is the current Head of the Mission through to August 2018," Brownlee said.

The United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation emerged from the Arab-Israeli war of 1948 through United Nations Security Council Resolution 50, to supervise the truce in Palestine.

The subsequent 1949 Armistice Agreements between Israel and its Arab neighbours -- Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria -- have required a continued UN presence ever since.

The United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation mission currently comprises 151 unarmed military observers provided by 25 troop contributing countries with military observers monitoring the situation along the borders of Egypt, Israel, Lebanon and Syria. Endit