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DONALD TRUMP
- President Donald Trump recently overturned longstanding US policy regarding the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, announcing “it is time” for the US to “fully recognize Israel’s Sovereignty” over the region.
REACTION
- The Syrian government vowed to take back the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights as its allies and enemies alike condemned U.S. President Donald Trump Russia, an ally of President Bashar al-Assad with forces in Syria, said Mr. Trump’s comments risked seriously destabilizing the region, and it voiced hope the statement was just declaratory. Iran, Mr. Assad’s main regional ally and which also has forces in Syria, condemned the statement as illegal and unacceptable. “The personnel decisions of Trump…will lead to a crisis in the region,” Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman said.
WHAT IS THE DISPUTE OVER GOLAN HEIGHTS?
- Until 1967 Golan Heights was part of Syria. Israel occupied the Golan Heights during the Six Day war (Third Arab Israeli war) held in 1967. Israel annexed the region unilaterally in 1981.
- This unilateral annexation was not recognized by the international community and the Golan Heights was seen as Occupied Syrian Territory.
ANNEX
- To annex an area of land means to incorporate it into another state’s political boundaries, thus making that land an official part of the larger political unit(state). It usually occurs through military, diplomatic or economic force or coercion.
- The annexing state assumes ultimate political authority and often controls the annexed area through direct rule, or the empowering of a member of the annexing state over the newly annexed land.
SIX DAY WAR
- The 6 Day War was fought between Israel and the states of Egypt, Jordan, and Syria for exactly six days between June 5th to June 10th, 1967.
IS ISRAEL’S OCCUPATION OF THE AREA LEGAL?
- In a nutshell, Israel’s occupation of the Golan Heights is illegal under international law. To understand why, it’s very important to remember three crucial resolutions passed by the UN Security Council: UNSCR 242 (1967), UNSCR 338 (1973) and UNSCR 497 (1981).
- In its first clause, UNSCR 242 clearly calls for the “withdrawal of Israel armed forces” from territories occupied in the Six-Day War – meaning the Sinai Peninsula, West Bank, and the Golan Heights. UNSCR 338, passed during the Yom Kippur/Ramadan War, calls on all parties involved to implement UNSCR 242 “in all its parts”.
WHY ISRAEL IS KEEN ON GOLAN HEIGHTS?
- Israel argues that civil war in Syria demonstrates the need to keep the plateau as a buffer zone between Israeli towns and the instability of its neighbor.
- Israel also fears that Iran is seeking to establish itself permanently on the Syrian side of the border in order to launch attacks on Israel. Golan’s water resources and naturally fertile soil.
WHY IS THE GOLAN HEIGHTS SO IMPORTANT?
- The Golan Heights’ high altitude provides it with observation points deep into Syria, with which Israel has never formally made peace.
- Israel has long wanted to reach bilateral political settlements with some of its Arab neighbors, and one of its strategies was to occupy territory and return it through negotiation.
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