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Trump bid to recognise Golan Heights

In remarks certain to ignite a furious response, Donald Trump has claimed “it’s time” to recognise Israel as owner of a contested region.
US President Donald Trump speaks after touring the Lima Army Tank Plant at Joint Systems Manufacturing in Lima, Ohio, March 20, 2019. Picture: AFPSource:AFP

US President Donald Trump speaks after touring the Lima Army Tank Plant at Joint Systems Manufacturing in Lima, Ohio, March 20, 2019. Picture: AFPSource:AFP

US President Donald Trump says that it’s time to recognise Israel’s sovereignty over the contested region of Golan Heights.

In a tweet overnight, Mr Trump said that after 52 years, it’s important for the United States for fully recognise Israel’s control over what he says is an area of “critical strategic and security importance to Israel” and stability in the region, which Israel took from Syria in the 1960s and settled in 1981, a move condemned by the United Nations.

 

Mr Trump’s tweet came as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was in Jerusalem for an unprecedented visit to Jerusalem’s Western Wall with the Israeli Prime Minister, the highest-level American official to tour the holy site with Israel’s leader.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, centre, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, and US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman at the Western Wall. Picture: AP
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, centre, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, and US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman at the Western Wall. Picture: APSource:AP

 

Reporters asked Pompeo about the issue, but he declined to answer.

Mr Netanyahu has accused Iran of attempting to set up a terrorist network to target Israel from the Golan Heights, which Israel captured from Syria in 1967.

He has used the incident to repeat his goal of international recognition for Israel’s claim on the area.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) welcomes US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to his residence in Jerusalem on March 21, 2019. Picture: AFP
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) welcomes US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to his residence in Jerusalem on March 21, 2019. Picture: AFPSource:AFP

 

Mr Pompeo said on Thursday he thinks it’s important and symbolic to visit the wall with the Israeli leader as a show of US support for Israel.

Senior US officials, including President Donald Trump and numerous predecessors, have visited the wall in the past but never with an Israeli leader.

Members of the Druze community in the Israeli-occupied sector of the Golan Heights use a megaphone to communicate with their relatives on the other side of the border. Pic: AFP
Members of the Druze community in the Israeli-occupied sector of the Golan Heights use a megaphone to communicate with their relatives on the other side of the border. Pic: AFPSource:AFP


Since Israel captured east Jerusalem and the Old City in 1967, US officials have avoided appearances at the Western Wall with Israeli leaders to avoid the appearance of recognising Israel’s control over the city’s most sensitive holy sites.

But that policy has been up-ended by the Trump administration.


Source: News Corp Australia Network:

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