During a joint press conference with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Jerusalem on Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took a moment to call on the international community to recognise the Golan Heights as part of Israel.
“Just last week we uncovered efforts by Hezbollah, an Iranian proxy, to build a military network in Syria, in the Golan Heights. All of you can imagine what would have happened if Israel were not in the Golan: We would have Iran on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. I think, for this reason, and many more, it is time that the international community recognises Israel’s stay on the Golan, and the fact that the Golan will always remain part of the State of Israel”, Netanyahu said.
PM Netanyahu: "It’s time that the international community recognizes Israel’s stay in the Golan, the fact that the Golan will always remain part of the State of Israel."
— PM of Israel (@IsraeliPM) 20 марта 2019 г.
The Israeli prime minister then praised Pompeo for being an “extraordinary champion” of the US-Israel alliance, and expressed gratitude to the US secretary of state and President Donald Trump for their efforts to support the partnership by moving the embassy to Jerusalem.
I thank the United States for taking the moral and necessary steps to protect the citizens of both our countries against this outrageous distortion of international law. Israel has no greater friend than the United States, and the United States has no greater friend than Israel. pic.twitter.com/tmBWH4u9tB
— PM of Israel (@IsraeliPM) 20 марта 2019 г.
Pompeo, in turn, responded to his remarks by saying that “Israel has a special place” in his heart.
Today, @SecPompeo delivered remarks with #Israel's Prime Minister @netanyahu in Jerusalem. @usembassyjlm pic.twitter.com/JVZHTBSEo2
— Department of State (@StateDept) 20 марта 2019 г.
Just a week ago, the US State Department referred to the Golan Heights as “Israeli-controlled” rather than “Israeli-occupied” in its 2018 human rights report on Israel, the Golan, the West Bank and Gaza. The reference came in contrast with earlier reports as a sign of Washington’s growing support for Israel.
READ MORE: Syria Slams US Senator's Bid to Recognise Golans as Part of Israel: 'Arrogant'
Last week, US Senator Lindsey Graham told Netanyahu that the Golan Heights should remain Israel’s territory and that he would push the US to formally recognise it. His bid came a month after Republican Senators Ted Cruz and Tom Cotton, along with Rep. Mike Gallagher, introduced a resolution to “ensure that Israel retains control of the Golan Heights”.
The Golan Heights were seized from neighbouring Syria by Israel following the 1967 Six-Day War, but it wasn’t until 1981 that Israel formally passed legislation annexing the region.
The law failed to gain international backing, and was criticised by the UN as illegal, with the US also refusing to recognise the move.
READ MORE: Possible US Recognition of Golan Linked to Assad Remaining Syrian Leader — PhD
Reacting to the condemnation, Netanyahu has repeatedly emphasised that Israel would not agree to meet Syria’s demands and retreat to the 1967 lines, because they were “indefensible”. The prime minister also stressed that the Golan Heights would “remain in the hands of Israel forever”.
