IMAGE: Surveying Syria’s Golan Heights region, much of which has been stolen by Israel.
This week, President Donald Trump declared US recognition of “Israel’s sovereignty” over the illegality of Israeli-occupied Golan Heights which actually belongs to Syria but was stolen by Israel during the 1967 Six-Day War, and later annexed.
The following day, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo traveled to Beirut from Tel Aviv, and made a bizarre claim. Pompeo first praised Trump decree as “historic” and “bold,” and then told the Christian Broadcast Network that the US President might have been ‘sent by God to protect Israel.’
For over 50 years, the U.S. has always recognized U.N. Security Council Resolution 242, which calls on Israel to return land it has occupied since the 1967 war with its Arab neighbors. After this and multiple other UN Resolutions, Israel still refuses to return the stolen land, and has instead declared it as part of Israel.
At a time when Iran seeks to use Syria as a platform to destroy Israel, President Trump boldly recognizes Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights. Thank you President Trump! @realDonaldTrump
— Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) March 21, 2019
A number of prominent US neoconservatives then weighed-in with the usual vociferous support for Israel, led by war lobby spokeswoman Nikki Haley who declared that Syria somehow does not deserve their land because of the ‘barbaric war criminal Assad’.
https://twitter.com/NikkiHaley/status/1109098372068245504
Surprisingly, France’s Pro-Zionist Macron government managed to speak up on this issue, which means that rather than adopting Tel Aviv’s illegal land-grab stance as Washington has, Europe has actually tipped in favour of international law on the issue.
France 24 reports…
France does not recognise the Israeli annexation of the Golan Heights and its recognition – as called for by US President Donald Trump – is contrary to international law, its foreign ministry said on Friday.
Trump provocatively tweeted on Thursday that Washington should recognise Israel’s annexation of the Golan Heights. However, international reaction was overwhelmingly critical.
“The Golan is a territory occupied by Israel since 1967. France does not recognise the Israeli annexation of 1981,” the French ministry said in a daily briefing, adding that UN Security Council resolutions had recognised the annexation as null and void.
“The recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan, occupied territory, would be contrary to international law, in particular the obligation for states not to recognise an illegal situation,” the ministry also said.
The Gulf Cooperation Council regional group of six Arab monarchies also expressed regret on Friday at Trump’s call to recognise Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights.
Trump’s statement “will not change the reality that (…) the Arab Golan Heights is Syrian land occupied by Israel by military force in 1967″, said Abdul Latif Al Zayani, the GCC secretary general. “The statements by the American president undermine the chances of achieving a just and comprehensive peace.”
French opposition to the Tel Aviv’s illegal land grab was immediately backed by Germany, as well as expected vocal opposition from Russia, Turkey, and Iran, and even the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) regional group of six Arab monarchies.
Turkish President Erdogan reiterated his country’s position in a speech at the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, where he said:
“We cannot allow the legitimisation of the occupation of the Golan Heights.”
Watch the following Golan Heights summary from France 24:
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READ MORE SYRIA NEWS AT: 21st Century Wire Syria Files
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