The UN Security Council has renewed the 35-year-old United Nations mission for observing the ceasefire between Israel and Syria on the Golan Heights for another six months. According to a UN statement received by AIR in Dubai today the move has come after UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called the mission's presence essential, due to overlying regional tensions despite apparent calm. He also called on Israel and Syria to resume the indirect peace talks, initiated under the auspices of Turkey. The new mandate of the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF), established in May 1974 following the disengagement of Israeli and Syrian forces after the 1973 war, will run until 30 June 2010.<br/><br/> <br/>