Security Council resolution 2426 (2018) [on extension of the mandate of the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) until 31 Dec. 2018]
Symbol: S/RES/2426 (2018)
Date: 2018-06-29
Status: adopted
Agenda: S/73 [55] UN DISENGAGEMENT OBSERVER FORCE
S/73 [54] MIDDLE EAST SITUATION
S/ X The situation in the Middle East.
Subjects: UN Disengagement Observer Force|PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS|TRUCE SUPERVISION|GOLAN HEIGHTS|ISRAEL|SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC|MIDDLE EAST SITUATION
Votes in favour: 15
Votes against: 0
Abstentions: 0
Voting record:
country: BOLIVIA (PLURINATIONAL STATE OF)
vote: yes
country: CHINA
vote: yes
country: CÔTE D'IVOIRE
vote: yes
country: EQUATORIAL GUINEA
vote: yes
country: ETHIOPIA
vote: yes
country: FRANCE
vote: yes
country: KAZAKHSTAN
vote: yes
country: KUWAIT
vote: yes
country: NETHERLANDS
vote: yes
country: PERU
vote: yes
country: POLAND
vote: yes
country: RUSSIAN FEDERATION
vote: yes
country: SWEDEN
vote: yes
country: UNITED KINGDOM
vote: yes
country: UNITED STATES
vote: yes

               United Nations                                                                    S/RES/2426 (2018)
               Security Council                                                Distr.: General
                                                                               29 June 2018




               Resolution 2426 (2018)
               Adopted by the Security Council at its 8303rd meeting, on
               29 June 2018

                    The Security Council,
                     Noting with concern that the situation in the Middle East is tense and is
               likely to remain so, unless and until a comprehensive settlement covering all
               aspects of the Middle East problem can be reached,
                     Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations
               Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) of 11 June 2018 ( S/2018/550) and also
               reaffirming its resolution 1308 (2000) of 17 July 2000,
                    Stressing that both parties must abide by the terms of the 1974
               Disengagement of Forces Agreement between Israel and the Syrian Arab Republic
               and scrupulously observe the ceasefire,
                     Concurring with the Secretary-General’s findings that the ongoing military
               activities conducted by any actor in the area of separation continue to have the
               potential to escalate tensions between Israel and the Syrian Arab Republic,
               jeopardize the ceasefire between the two countries, and pose a risk to the local
               civilian population and United Nations personnel on the ground,
                   Expressing alarm that recent escalation of violence in the Syrian Arab
               Republic risks a serious conflagration of the conflict in the region
                    Expressing grave concern at all violations of the Disengagement of Forces
               Agreement,
                     Stressing that there should be no military forces in the area of separation
               other than those of UNDOF,
                    Strongly condemning the continued fighting in the area of separation, calling
               on all parties to the Syrian domestic conflict to cease military actions in the
               UNDOF area of operations and to respect international humanitarian law,
                     Condemning the use of heavy weapons by both the Syrian armed forces and
               armed groups in the ongoing Syrian conflict in the area of separation, including
               the use of tanks by the Syrian armed forces and opposition during clas hes,
                     Echoing the Secretary-General’s call upon all parties to the Syrian domestic
               conflict to cease military actions throughout the country, including in the UNDOF
               area of operations,
                    Reaffirming its readiness to consider listing individuals, groups,
               undertakings, and entities providing support to the Islamic State in Iraq and the
               Levant (ISIL, also known as Da’esh) or to the Al-Nusra Front (also known as
               Jabhat Fateh al-Sham), including those who are financing, arming, planning, or



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               recruiting for ISIL or the Al-Nusra Front and all other individuals, groups,
               undertakings, and entities associated with ISIL and Al-Qaida as listed on the ISIL
               (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions List, including those participating in or
               otherwise supporting attacks against UNDOF peacekeepers,
                     Recognizing the necessity of efforts to flexibly adjust UNDOF’s posture on
               a temporary basis to minimize the security risk to UNDOF personnel as UNDOF
               continues to implement its mandate, while emphasizing that the ultimate goal is
               for the peacekeepers to return to their positions in UNDOF’s area of operations
               as soon as practicable,
                     Emphasizing the importance of Security Council and troop-contributing
               countries having access to reports and information related to UNDOF ’s current
               temporary configuration, and reinforcing that such information assists the
               Security Council with evaluating, mandating, and reviewing UNDOF and with
               effective consultation with troop-contributing countries,
                     Underscoring the need for UNDOF to have at its disposal all necessary
               means and resources to carry out its mandate safely and securely, including
               technology and equipment to enhance its observation of the area of separation and
               the ceasefire line, and to improve force protection, as appropriate, and recalling
               that the theft of United Nations weapons and ammunition, vehicles and other
               assets, and the looting and destruction of United Nations facilities, are
               unacceptable,
                     Expressing its profound appreciation to UNDOF’s military and civilian
               personnel, including those from Observer Group Golan, for their service in an
               increasingly challenging operating environment, underscoring the important
               contribution UNDOF’s continued presence makes to peace and security in the
               Middle East, welcoming steps taken to enhance the safety and security of UNDOF,
               including Observer Group Golan, personnel, and stressing the need for continued
               vigilance to ensure the safety and security of UNDOF and Observer Group Golan
               personnel,
                    Strongly condemning incidents threatening the safety and security of United
               Nations personnel,
                     Expressing its appreciation to UNDOF, including Observer Group Golan,
               for the ongoing efforts made towards the reestablishment of its headquarters at
               Camp Faouar and limited patrolling in its vicinity, and to upgr ade and expand its
               positions on Mount Hermon, including the establishment of new positions,
                     Taking note of the Secretary-General’s plan for UNDOF to return to vacated
               positions on the Bravo side based on a continuous assessment of security in the
               area of separation and its surroundings, and continued discussion and
               coordination with the parties,
                    Recalls that UNDOF’s deployment and the 1974 Disengagement of Forces
               Agreement are steps toward a just and durable peace on the basis of Security
               Council Resolution 338 (1973),
                    Recalling its request of the Secretary-General to ensure that data related to
               the effectiveness of peacekeeping operations, including peacekeeping
               performance data, is used to improve analytics and the evaluation of mission
               operations, based on clear and well identified benchmarks,
                    Recalling resolution 2242 (2015) and its aspiration to increase the number
               of women in military and police contingents of United Nations peacekeeping
               operations,
                     1.   Calls upon the parties concerned to implement immediately its
               resolution 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973;
                     2.   Stresses the obligation on both parties to scrupulously and fully respect
               the terms of the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement, calls on the parties to

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           exercise maximum restraint and prevent any breaches of the ceasefire and the area
           of separation, encourages the parties to take advantage of UNDOF’s liaison
           function regularly to address issues of mutual concern, as appropriate, and
           underscores that there should be no military activity of any kind in the area of
           separation, including military operations by the Syrian Arab Armed Forces;
                 3.   Underlines that there should be no military activity of the armed
           opposition groups in the area of separation, and urges Member States to convey
           strongly to the Syrian armed opposition groups in UNDOF ’s area of operations
           that UNDOF remains an impartial entity and to halt all activities that endanger
           United Nations peacekeepers on the ground and to accord the United Nations
           personnel on the ground the freedom to carry out their mandate safely and
           securely;
                 4.   Calls on all groups other than UNDOF to abandon all UNDOF
           positions and the Quneitra crossing point, and return the peacekeepers ’ vehicles,
           weapons, and other equipment;
                 5.     Calls on all parties to cooperate fully with the operations of UNDOF,
           to respect its privileges and immunities and to ensure its freedom of movement,
           as well as the security of and unhindered and immediate access for the United
           Nations personnel carrying out their mandate, including the unimpeded delivery
           of UNDOF equipment and the temporary use of alternative ports of entry and
           departure, as required, to ensure safe and secure troop rotation and resupply
           activities, in conformity with existing agreements, and urges prompt reporting by
           the Secretary-General to the Security Council and troop-contributing countries of
           any actions that impede UNDOF’s ability to fulfil its mandate;
                 6.    Notes the importance of the temporary crossing point for UNDOF
           personnel between the Alpha and Bravo sides for contingency situations, in the
           absence of the established crossing at Quneitra, and in this regard, calls on the
           parties to constructively engage with UNDOF, with the understanding that the
           Quneitra crossing will be re-opened as soon as security conditions permit;
                  7.   Welcomes UNDOF’s ongoing return to Camp Faouar and limited
           patrolling around Camp Faouar, as well as the cooperation of the parties to
           facilitate this return, together with continued efforts to plan for UNDOF ’s
           expeditious return to vacated positions in the area of separation, including the
           provision of adequate force protection, based on a continuous assessment of
           security in the area;
                 8.    Underscores the importance of progress in the deployment of
           appropriate technology, including counter-improvised explosive device (IED)
           capabilities and a sense and warn system, as well as in addressing civilian staffing
           needs, to ensure the safety and security of UNDOF personnel and equipment,
           following appropriate consultations with the parties, and notes in this regard that
           the Secretary-General’s proposal for such technologies has been delivered to the
           parties for approval;
                 9.    Encourages the parties to the Disengagement Agreement to engage
           constructively to make the necessary temporary arrangements with UNDOF for
           the force’s return to vacated positions, taking into account existing agr eements;
                 10. Welcomes the initiatives undertaken by the Secretary-General to
           standardise a culture of performance in UN peacekeeping, calls on him to continue
           his efforts to develop an integrated performance policy framework and apply it to
           UNDOF, and requests the Secretary-General seek to increase the number of
           women in UNDOF, as well as to ensure the meaningful participation of women in
           all aspects of operations;
                11. Welcomes the efforts being undertaken by UNDOF to implement the
           Secretary-General’s zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse and
           to ensure full compliance of its personnel with the United Nations code of


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               conduct, requests the Secretary-General to continue to take all necessary action
               in this regard and to keep the Security Council informed, and urges troopcontributing countries to take preventive and disciplinary action to ensure that
               such acts are properly investigated and punished in cases involving their
               personnel;
                      12. Decides to renew the mandate of UNDOF for a period of six months,
               that is, until 31 December 2018, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure that
               UNDOF has the required capacity and resources to fulfil the mandate in a safe
               and secure way;
                    13. Requests the Secretary-General to report every 90 days on
               developments in the situation and the measures taken to implement resolution 338
               (1973).




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