US president Donald Trump on Monday evening signed a decree recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the occupied Golan Heights seized from Syria in 1967 in a move that received widespread international condemnation.
Benjamin Netanyahu who faces an election next month was by Trump’s side as he signed the proclamation at the White House.
Israel annexed the Golan Heights in 1981 in a move that is not recognized by the international community.
“Today I am taking historic action to promote Israel’s ability to defend itself and really to have a very powerful very strong national security which they’re entitled to have” Trump told a news conference before signing the measure.
Syria denounced Trump’s decision as “a blatant attack on its sovereignty” and vowed to recover the area “through all available means.”
The Hamas Movement for its part deplored the US decision on the Syrian Golan Heights as “a gross alignment with Israel against the Arab rights” and said that such move vindicated further that “the administration of Trump has become a threat to international peace and security.”
