Special to WorldTribune.com

NICOSIA — The United Nations observers force along the
Israeli-Syrian frontier has revised its strategy.

Diplomatic sources said the UN Disengagement Observer Force has
severely restricted operations in Syria and focused on protection of its
1,000 members. They said the UN force was reorganizing after the abduction
of 21 officers by Syrian rebels in March and the withdrawal of several
contingents.

“Israel and Syria very much want this deployment to continue, but UNDOF has been forced to make changes to accommodate the changes on the ground,” a diplomat who monitors UNDOF said.

The diplomats said UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon has stressed that
UNDOF would not be disbanded rather continue under greater restrictions. They said the UN force was ordered to avoid contact with Sunni rebels, reported to control at least 11 of the 17 entrances to the UNDOF buffer zone between Israel and Syria.

“The focus right now is force protection as well as trying to keep the
rebels from deploying in the buffer zone,” the diplomat said. “This requires a constant presence.”

But the sources acknowledged that rebels aligned with Al Qaida have
repeatedly penetrated the buffer zone and reached the fence along the
Israeli frontier. They said the most protected area was around Camp
Faouar, the administrative headquarters of UNDOF.

“The rebels are testing both Israel and UNDOF to see how far they can
go, but right now it doesn’t appear that they plan to actually capture parts
of the buffer zone,” a Western diplomatic source said.

The most active contingents in UNDOF were identified as Austria, India
and the Philippines. In April, the sources said, Austria warned Israel that
the Vienna government could order a withdrawal if the rebels grow stronger on
the Golan Heights.

“On the ground, UNDOF has become very weak, although for political
reasons, it is very important that the mission continue,” the Western source
said.

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