No right for a cavalier, irresponsible attitude towards international law

Israel has occupied the Syrian Golan Heights since 1967.

It was governed by military administration until 1981, when Israel illegally annexed the territory. In response, the UN passed Security Council resolution 497 on December 17, 1981, backed unanimously by its 15 members, including Ireland.

Kevin McCarthy (letters, April 20) says Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu not only wants to retain this territory until such time as the Syrian civil war is over, but that it should “forever remain in Israeli hands”.