Trump ready to recognize Israel’s annexation of Golan Heights

Washington — US President Donald Trump said Thursday that Washington is disposed to accept Israel’s annexation of the Golan Heights, a part of Syria that has been under Israeli military occupation since the Six-Day War in 1967.

“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!,” Trump wrote on Twitter.

The president spoke out on the question of the Golan Heights days before a visit to Washington by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu , who is due to meet with Trump at the White House next Monday.

Netanyahu, campaigning ahead of Israel’s April 9 general elections, was quick to respond to Trump’s comment.

“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!,” Netanyahu tweeted.

Citing unnamed official sources in Jerusalem and Washington, several Israeli media outlets reported earlier Thursday that US recognition of Israel’s claim to the Golan Heights could come as soon as next week.

A formal announcement would be another boost for Netanyahu, who has been pressing for such a move and traveled to Golan earlier this month with US Sen. Lindsey Graham and Washington’s ambassador to Israel, David Friedman.

In its latest annual report on human rights around the world, the US State Department departed from its previous practice by referring to the Golan Heights as “Israeli-controlled” rather than “Israeli-occupied.”

Trump’s talk of recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the Golan is seen as a further signal of support for Netanyahu as the White House is putting the finishing touches to its Middle East peace plan.

Most of the 26,000 members of the Druze religious community in the Golan Heights have refused assimilation into the Israeli state and nearly all of them boycotted Israel’s first-ever attempt to hold municipal elections there last October.

International media have reported that around 20,000 Israeli settlers currently live in the Golan Heights.

United Nations peacekeepers have been stationed in the Golan for decades.