United States recognition of the Golan Heights as part of Israel

On March 25, 2019, the United States officially recognized the Golan Heights as being under the sovereignty of Israel. Signed into effect by the Trump administration, the U.S. presidential proclamation marked the first instance of any country recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights;^[1] the territory is viewed as part of Syria under international law, though it has been under an Israeli military occupation since the 1967 Arab–Israeli War.^[2] In 1981, Israel's government passed the Golan Heights Law — a de facto annexation of the territory.

Proclamation on Recognizing the Golan Heights as Part of the State of Israel
American president Donald Trump, accompanied by Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, signing the document of recognition at the White House
U.S. Presidential Proclamation
Territorial extent	United States  Israel  Syria^[a]
Signed by	Donald Trump
Signed	March 25, 2019 (2019-03-25)
Status: Current legislation

The U.S. recognition was seen as a political gift from American president Donald Trump, in a bid to help Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu gain a favourable standing among voters in the then-upcoming April 2019 legislative election.^[3][4] It was condemned by a number of countries and organizations, including the United Nations and the European Union (see § Reactions). The Syrian government rejected the U.S. statement, describing it as a "blatant attack" on Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The recognition continued under the successor Biden administration.

Background

See also: Status of the Golan Heights and United States recognition of Jerusalem as capital of Israel

 

Location of the Golan Heights, between Israel and Syria (under Israeli control since the 1967 Arab–Israeli War)

During the 1967 Arab–Israeli War, Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria. In 1981, the Israeli government effectively annexed the territory through the Golan Heights Law, in a move that was not internationally recognized.^[5] Since 1967, the United Nations has recognized the Golan Heights as Syrian territory under an Israeli military occupation.^[2]

Prior to the U.S. recognition of the Golan Heights as Israeli territory in March 2019, the Trump administration had signed another presidential proclamation in December 2017, in which the U.S. recognized Jerusalem as the capital city of Israel. Subsequently, the American diplomatic mission to Israel was relocated from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem (see Embassy of the United States, Jerusalem); the recognition and relocation was largely condemned by the international community, as the United Nations recognizes the city as a central negotiating block for the Israeli–Palestinian peace process. Though Israeli sovereignty over West Jerusalem is widely accepted, East Jerusalem is viewed as being under an Israeli military occupation.

Announcement

On March 21, 2019, U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted that it was "time for the United States to fully recognize Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights."^[6] The move was welcomed by Israel.^[7] Dozens of people from the Druze community in the Golan Heights protested against Trump's announcement.^[8]

Four days later, on 25 March 2019, in a joint press conference in Washington with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump signed a proclamation stating that "the United States recognizes that the Golan Heights are part of the State of Israel."^[9][10]

The proclamation was signed in the context of Trump accusing his political opponents of allegedly making "anti-Semitic" comments in prior weeks. Trump designed the proclamation signing and Netanyahu's visit to the United States just two weeks prior to the April 2019 Israeli legislative election as a boost to Netanyahu's bid. The proclamation was also expected to raise Trump's popularity amongst pro-Israel voters in the United States.^[3]

Justification for the proclamation

American officials

The proclamation cited "aggressive acts by Iran and terrorist groups, including Hizballah, in southern Syria" as justification for Israel to maintain sovereignty over the Golan Heights as Israel has a "need to protect itself from Syria and other regional threats."

In refuting a supposed double standard in recognizing Israel's annexation of the Golan Heights but placing sanctions on Russia for annexing Crimea in 2014, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said "What the President did with the Golan Heights is recognize the reality on the ground and the security situation necessary for the protection of the Israeli state. It’s that — it’s that simple." A State Department spokesperson claimed the day following the proclamation that "Israel gained control of the Golan through its legitimate response to Syrian aggression aimed at Israel’s destruction. Russia has occupied Crimea despite the fact that it has recognized Crimea as part of Ukraine in bilateral agreements and despite its international obligations and commitments, including core OSCE principles.”^[11]

Israeli officials

Netanyahu claimed at the press conference following the announcement that "Israel won the Golan Heights in a just war of self-defence," referring to the 1967 war that began with Israeli-launched strikes which were later defended on grounds of pre-emption. An anonymous Israeli official echoed Netanyahu's claims, telling The Washington Post that the recognition of the Golan Heights was justified since the occupied territory was gained in a "defensive war".^[11]

Reactions

The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said that "the status of Golan has not changed,"^[5][12] and the US's move resulted in condemnation, criticism or rejection from the European Union,^[13][14][15] United Kingdom, Germany, France, Belgium, Spain, Poland, South Africa, Turkey, Egypt, the Arab League, Russia,^[5][16][17] Ireland,^[18] Saudi Arabia,^[19] Oman,^[20] the United Arab Emirates,^[21] Bahrain,^[22] Qatar,^[23] Kuwait,^[24] Jordan,^[25] Iraq,^[26] Iran,^[27] Mauritania,^[28] Morocco,^[29] Tunisia,^[30] Somalia,^[31] Lebanon,^[32] Japan,^[33] Cuba,^[34] Venezuela,^[35] Indonesia,^[36] Canada,^[37] Pakistan,^[38] Sudan,^[39] Malaysia,^[40] Vietnam,^[41] and China.^[42]

Syria called the move a "blatant attack" on its sovereignty and territorial integrity and maintained that it had a right to reclaim the territory.^[5] The state-owned news organization Syrian Arab News Agency reported that protests were held in several Syrian provinces against Trump's declaration.^[43] Hezbollah's Hassan Nasrallah, whose group was mentioned as a threat to Israel in the proclamation, stated that "resistance, resistance, and resistance" was the only way to take back the Israeli-occupied territories.^[44]

The move was praised by Israeli leaders across the political spectrum, including President Reuven Rivlin, Opposition Leader Shelly Yachimovich, Labor leader Avi Gabbay,^[45] Blue and White leader Benny Gantz,^[46] Speaker Yuli Edelstein, Kulanu leader Moshe Kahlon, and New Right co-leaders Naftali Bennett and Ayelet Shaked.^[47]

Aftermath

 

Unveiling of the sign to Trump Heights in June 2019

On April 23, 2019, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he will bring a resolution for government approval to name a new community in the Golan Heights after Trump.^[48] On June 16, 2019, Israel announced the establishment of Trump Heights, a planned settlement in the Golan Heights.^[49]

In June 2021, Biden administration in the US affirmed that it would continue to maintain the previous administration's policy of recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights.^[50] However, Secretary of State Antony Blinken has "signalled openness to an eventual policy review".^[51][52]

See also

• United States recognition of Jerusalem as capital of Israel
• Israel–United States relations
• Israel–Syria relations
• Syria–United States relations

Notes

1. The international community recognizes the Golan Heights as being under Syrian sovereignty, and likewise falling under what are internationally recognized as Israeli-occupied territories.

References

1. "Trump formally recognises Israeli sovereignty over Golan Heights". Al Jazeera. from the original on June 2, 2019. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
2. * "The international community maintains that the Israeli decision to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration in the occupied Syrian Golan is null and void and without international legal effect." International Labour Office (2009). The situation of workers of the occupied Arab territories (International government publication ed.). International Labour Office. p. 23. ISBN 978-92-2-120630-9.
   • In 2008, a plenary session of the United Nations General Assembly voted by 161–1 in favour of a motion on the "occupied Syrian Golan" that reaffirmed support for UN Resolution 497. (General Assembly adopts broad range of texts, 26 in all, on recommendation of its fourth Committee, including on decolonization, information, Palestine refugees March 27, 2019, at the Wayback Machine, United Nations, 5 December 2008.)
   • "the Syrian Golan Heights territory, which Israel has occupied since 1967". Also, "the Golan Heights, a 450-square mile portion of southwestern Syria that Israel occupied during the 1967 Arab-Israeli war." (CRS Issue Brief for Congress: Syria: U.S. Relations and Bilateral Issues, Congressional Research Service. 19 January 2006) September 18, 2018, at the Wayback Machine
   • "Israeli-occupied Golan Heights" (Central Intelligence Agency. CIA World Factbook 2010, Skyhorse Publishing Inc., 2009. pg. 339. ISBN 1-60239-727-9.)
   • "...the United States considers the Golan Heights to be occupied territory subject to negotiation and Israeli withdrawal..." ("CRS Issue Brief for Congress: Israeli-United States Relations" April 24, 2003, at the Wayback Machine, Congressional Research Service, 5 April 2002. pg. 5. Retrieved 1 August 2010.)
   • "Occupied Golan Heights" (Travel advice: Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories 20 July 2009 at the Wayback Machine, UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Retrieved 1 August 2010.)
   • "In the ICRC's view, the Golan is an occupied territory." (ICRC activities in the occupied Golan during 2007 February 15, 2021, at the Wayback Machine, International Committee of the Red Cross, 24 April 2008.)
3. Kevin Liptak (March 25, 2019). "Trump greets embattled Netanyahu, signs Golan Heights proclamation". CNN. from the original on March 26, 2019. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
4. "United States Recognizes Israeli Sovereignty Over the Golan Heights". American Journal of International Law. 113 (3): 613–619. 2019. doi:10.1017/ajil.2019.35. S2CID 213236170.
5. "Trump recognizes Golan Heights as Israeli, boosting Netanyahu and angering Syria". Reuters. March 25, 2019. from the original on March 25, 2019. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
6. Trump, Donald [@realDonaldTrump] (March 21, 2019). "After 52 years it is time for the United States to fully recognize Israel's Sovereignty over the Golan Heights, which is of critical strategic and security importance to the State of Israel and Regional Stability!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
7. "Trump: Time to recognise Golan as Israeli". BBC News. March 21, 2019. from the original on March 21, 2019. Retrieved March 21, 2019.
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9. Trump, Donald J. (March 25, 2019). "Proclamation on Recognizing the Golan Heights as Part of the State of Israel". whitehouse.gov. from the original on January 20, 2021. Retrieved March 25, 2019 – via National Archives.
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15. Landau, Noa (March 22, 2019). "EU Says Does Not Recognize Israeli Sovereignty Over Golan Heights". Haaretz. from the original on March 26, 2019. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
16. "Europe at UN says Golan is not Israeli territory". France 24. March 26, 2019. from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
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19. "KSA rejects and denounces the declaration issued by the US Administration to recognize Israel's sovereignty over the occupied Syrian Golan Height The official Saudi Press Agency". www.spa.gov.sa.
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21. "UAE expresses regret, condemnation of US decision on Golan The official Saudi Press Agency".
22. "Bahrain deplores US recognition of Syrian Golan as Israeli territory The official Saudi Press Agency".
23. "Gulf Arabs, Iran reject U.S. recognition of Golan Heights as Israeli". Reuters. March 26, 2019. from the original on March 26, 2019. Retrieved March 26, 2019 – via www.reuters.com.
24. "US recognition of Israeli' sovereignty on Syrian Golan fuels tension". Kuwait News Agency. March 25, 2019. from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
25. "Jordan News Agency (Petra)". petra.gov.jo. from the original on March 26, 2019. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
26. "Iraq considers Golan Heights an "occupied Syrian territory," says foreign minister". March 25, 2019. from the original on March 26, 2019. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
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29. . Archived from the original on March 30, 2019. Retrieved March 30, 2019.
30. . Xinhua. March 28, 2019. Archived from the original on March 30, 2019. Retrieved October 19, 2019.
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34. "Cuba Slams Trump's Recognition of Israeli Sovereignty over the Golan". prensa-latina.cu. from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
35. "Venezuela rejects U.S. intent to recognize Israel's sovereignty over Golan Heights • Ministerio del Poder Popular para Relaciones Exteriores". from the original on February 15, 2021. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
36. "Indonesia rejects Trump's recognition of Golan Heights as part of Israel". The Straits Times. March 26, 2019. from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
37. From: Global Affairs Canada (March 25, 2019). "Statement on the Golan Heights". Canada.ca. from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved October 19, 2019.
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39. . Xinhua. March 27, 2019. Archived from the original on March 29, 2019. Retrieved October 19, 2019.
40. "Malaysia slams Trump recognition of Golan Heights annexation". Malaysiakini.com. March 28, 2019. from the original on March 29, 2019. Retrieved October 19, 2019.
41. "Vietnam criticizes US recognition of Israel's sovereignty over Syria's Golan Heights - VnExpress International". E.vnexpress.net. March 29, 2019. from the original on March 29, 2019. Retrieved October 19, 2019.
42. "China Rejects U.S. Decision on Syrian Golan". prensa-latina.cu. from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
43. ruaa-jazaeri (March 26, 2019). "Protests held across Syrian provinces against Trump's decision on occupied Golan". from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
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45. "Trump signs declaration recognising Israeli sovereignty over Golan Heights". The Independent. March 25, 2019. from the original on April 1, 2019. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
46. Cortellessa, Eric. "At AIPAC, Gantz vows to rid Israel's leadership of racism, corruption". www.timesofisrael.com. from the original on April 20, 2019. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
47. "Israeli politicians praise Trump's Golan Heights recognition". www.timesofisrael.com. from the original on April 13, 2019. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
48. Morris, Loveday (April 23, 2019). "Trump Town: Netanyahu wants to repay Trump's Golan move with a community named in his honor". The Washington Post. from the original on April 23, 2019. Retrieved June 17, 2019.
49. "Israel unveils 'Trump Heights' in Golan". BBC News. June 16, 2019. from the original on May 18, 2020. Retrieved June 17, 2019.
50. Lazaroff, Tova (June 26, 2021). "US: No change to policy recognizing Israeli sovereignty on Golan". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
51. Williams, Dan (October 11, 2021). "Israel says it will keep Golan as Assad's fortunes, U.S. views shift". Reuters – via www.reuters.com.
52. "After Blinken remarks, Netanyahu says Golan will always be Israel's". Reuters. February 9, 2021 – via www.reuters.com.

External links

• Proclamation on Recognizing the Golan Heights as Part of the State of Israel, full text of the proclamation