Baladi News
The U.S President Donald Trump said on Thursday the U.S. should recognize Israeli control of the Golan Heights territory.
This could be seen as a diplomatic win for Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu as he faces a difficult re-election race.
Trump said: “After 52 years it is time for the United States to fully recognize Israel’s Sovereignty over the Golan Heights.” Trump claimed the territory located between Israel and Syria was of critical strategic and security importance to Israel and regional stability.
The US is the only country in the world so far to recognize Israel's annexation of the Golan Heights. The US recognition may not have much effect on international recognition but could be of some help in electing Netanyahu.
France reacted to Trump's announcement saying that it does not recognize the Israeli annexation of the Golan Heights and its recognition called for by US president Trump. The French Foreign Ministry said on Friday that such recognition was contrary to international law.
In a daily briefing the ministry said: “The Golan is a territory occupied by Israel since 1967. France does not recognize the Israeli annexation of 1981.The recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan, occupied territory, would be contrary to international law, in particular the obligation for states not to recognize an illegal situation."
Donald Tusk President of the European Council said on Friday that the EU position on the Golan Heights was well known and that was that it did not recognize the sovereignty of Israel over the territory which had been seized in war. When asked to comment on Trump's announcement Tusk said: “The EU’s position is well know and has not changed.”
Source: Digital Journal.