View from the Golan
View from the GolanIsrael news photo: Flash 90

Israel has remained silent until now in the face of the fighting from Syria spilling into the Golan Heights, but cannot be expected to do so for an extended period of time, its ambassador to the United Nations said on Monday.

In an urgent letter he sent to the UN Security Council and the UN Secretary General following the firing of artillery shells on the Golan Heights, ambassador Ron Prosor warned that the situation in the Golan could escalate unless something is done.

“So far, Israel has shown maximum restraint. You must act as soon as possible before the situation deteriorates,” Prosor wrote.

He added, “Firing on Israeli territory is a violation of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Syria. These incidents have the potential to incite an already tense region. Israel will not stand by while its citizens' lives are at risk from reckless behavior in Syria.”

Fighting between the Syrian army and rebels seeking to oust President Bashar Al-Assad has continuously spilled into Israeli territory, with the latest incident happening on Saturday, when three mortar shells exploded in the southern Golan Heights, near Ramot Magshimim.

No one was hurt and no damage was caused.

Several days earlier, a shell fired from Syria hit the Golan Heights. The shell was found after residents of a local town reported hearing the whistle of incoming fire near their community.

IDF soldiers searched the area and found the shell that had not detonated. Sappers neutralized the device.

Strategic Affairs Minister Moshe Yaalon said on Sunday that Israel is closely monitoring the battlefronts in Syria, but reiterated that Israel does not wish to be involved in Syria's civil war.

"We are monitoring the situation closely. As long as it does not threaten us, we will not intervene. At this stage we don't see any threat," he said.