Middle East Divisional Officer Patrick Gauchat now also responsible for Golan Heights

SDA

23.12.2024 - 10:54

Ad interim responsible for the Golan Heights: Divisional Commander Patrick Gauchat (archive photo)
Ad interim responsible for the Golan Heights: Divisional Commander Patrick Gauchat (archive photo)
Keystone

Divisional Officer Patrick Gauchat is to become interim head of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (Undof) on the Golan Heights annexed by Israel in 1981. The Federal Council appointed him at its meeting on Friday, as announced on Monday.

Keystone-SDA

Divisional Officer Patrick Gauchat had been asked by the United Nations to assume command of Undof in addition to his current role as head of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (Untso).

He will perform this function ad interim - until the new commander, who was recently appointed by the UN Secretary-General, takes up her duties.

Undof was established by the UN Security Council in 1974 to monitor the ceasefire and withdrawal agreement between Israeli and Syrian forces on the Golan Heights following the 1973 Yom Kippur War.