Bogotá, Aug. 15 (SANA)Former Colombian President Gustavo Petro said Saturday that Colombians consider the occupied Syrian Golan to be Syrian territory, not Israeli territory.

Petro said on X that Colombians, like most of the international community, consider the Golan to be Syrian territory rather than Israeli territory.

Petro also alleged that Israel used software to influence Colombian elections and replace popular voting with algorithms, claiming that Abelardo de la Espriella, whom he described as aligned with Israel, did not receive a majority of Colombian votes.

He also apologized to Arab and Muslim countries and expressed respect for them.

Colombiarecognized what it called “Israeli sovereignty” over the occupied Syrian Golan on August 10, three days after Abelardo De la Espriella took office. Syria condemned the move as contrary to the U.N. Charter and U.N. Security Council Resolution 497 of 1981.

Syria also submitted an official letter to the U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres and the president of the Security Council expressing its protest, condemnation and categorical rejection of Colombia’s recognition. The move also drew Arab and international condemnation.F.J./M.F.