Trump Wants U.S. to Recognize Israeli Sovereignty Over the Golan Heights [View all]

[DonViejo]

Source: The New York Times



By Eileen Sullivan and Edward Wong
March 21, 2019

WASHINGTON — President Trump said on Thursday that the United States should recognize Israel’s authority over the Golan Heights, one of the world’s most disputed territories, in a significant shift of decades-long American policy.

The president’s announcement, in a midday Twitter post, came after repeated pressure from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel. Israel seized the Golan Heights from Syria in 1967 and effectively annexed it in 1981, a move condemned by the United Nations.

Link to tweet

Mr. Netanyahu, who is facing a tough challenge in upcoming parliamentary elections, immediately praised Mr. Trump on Twitter for his decision.

Link to tweet

There have been recent signs that the Trump administration was moving in this direction. A recent State Department report used the phrase “Israeli-controlled” instead of “Israeli-occupied” to describe the territories of the Golan Heights, the West Bank and Gaza.

Mr. Netanyahu is scheduled to visit Mr. Trump in Washington next week, and the new United States’ stance on the disputed land is expected to help the prime minister significantly.

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Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/21/us/politics/trump-golan-heights-israel.html