Donald Trump received Benjamin Netanyahu and acknowledged the sovereignty of Israel over the Golan Heights

The US president justified this measure by the "aggressive actions" of Iran and terrorist groups against Israel. This decision could give Netanyahu a boost before the elections that his country will hold on April 9.

The Golan Heights are located on the border between Israel, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan and have significant water resources that provide Israel with about one third of the water that it consumes. "We will never abandon themNetanyahu said, pointing out that the region was "invaluable" for regional strategic defense.

The Israeli prime minister also stressed the close relations he has with Washington. "Israel has never had a better friend than you", he thanked, highlighting other milestones of the Trump government: the exit from the nuclear deal with Iran or the recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of the Jewish state .

The two leaders also spoke of the military escalation in Gaza, where Israel bombed in response to an attack near Tel Aviv for which it blamed the terrorist group Hamas. "Israel will respond with force to this insane aggression. We will do everything we need to do", warned the prime minister, who shortened his visit to the United States after a rocket fired from the southern Gaza Strip fell on a house in Mishmeret, injuring seven people.

For his part, Trump said he would always support Israel's right to defend itself against the aggression. Minutes before the conference, the Defense Forces had deployed a series of bombings in Gaza.