The UN Security Council on Thursday extended the mandate of the UN force monitoring the cease-fire in the Golan Heights between Syria and Israel by another six months. The unanimous decision extends the mandate of the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) to December 31, 2011.
The decision also took note of the violence in the Golan on May 15 and June 5, when the Israeli army opened fire on Palestinian refugees as Syrian forces stood by. At least 27 people were killed in the demonstrations during the two days, and some diplomats said the accounts given in a UN report of the violence reinforced claims that Syria is stirring up border troubles to divert attention from President Bashar al-Assad's deadly crackdown on opposition protests. These events have "put the long-held cease-fire in jeopardy," said the resolution.