US recognizes Golan Heights as Israeli territory
Haaretz reports that the U.S. President Donald Trump met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu March 25 to sign a presidential proclamation officially recognizing the Golan Heights as Israeli territory. Netanyahu called Trump's decision to recognize Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights "historic justice" and a "diplomatic victory," saying that "Israel won the Golan Heights in a just war of defense."
The Time informs that during a joint press-conference at the White House, Mr Trump said his decision would cement the Jewish state’s ability to defend itself from regional threats should a broad Arab-Israeli peace deal ever be reached.
Reuters writes that Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait criticized Monday’s move to recognize Israel’s 1981 annexation and said the territory was occupied Arab land. Riyadh and Abu Dhabi said it was an impediment to peace.
The European members of the United Nations Security Council - France, Britain, Germany, Belgium and Poland - said they did not recognize Israel’s sovereignty over the territories it has occupied since June 1967, including the Golan Heights.
France24 writes that Qatar, which has been at loggerheads with other Gulf states over its policies, joined them in rejecting Trump’s move and called on Israel to end its occupation of the Golan Heights and comply with international resolutions.
Lebanon said the decision contravened international law. Iran echoed the comments, describing Trump’s decision as unprecedented in this century. Turkey’s foreign minister said that the U.S. had ignored international law and that the decision would further increase tensions in the region.
The Times of Israel writes that demonstrations spread across Syria on March 26 denouncing Washington’s recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, in a show of unity in the war-torn country. According to Syria’s official position, Mr Trump's decision was "a blatant attack on its sovereignty."
Prepared by Marina Muradyan