Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed on Tuesday to forever maintain control of the Syrian Golan Heights which was occupied during the Six Day War.
“The Golan Heights will forever remain under Israeli sovereignty. We will never leave the Golan Heights. It’s ours” Netanyahu said at a conference of Israeli youth held outside the settlement of Katzrin established on the Occupied Golan Heights.
He claimed that the territory belonged to Israel and warned that any withdrawal would bring “Islamist extremists” onto the strategic plateau. “If we are not here radical Islam will be and we all understand the consequences” Netanyahu said.
Israel occupied the Golan from Syria the West Bank East Jerusalem the Gaza Strip and the Sinai Peninsula were also taken by Israel during the Six Day War which broke out in 1967 after Egypt Syria and Jordan mobilized to defend Palestinians and their land from Israeli occupation.
Israel then annexed the Syrian Golan Heights in 1981 in a move that was not recognized by the international community.
