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President Trump on Thursday abruptly approved Israel's ongoing control of the disputed Golan Heights, claiming on Twitter that the region seized from Syria during the 1967 Arab War is "of critical strategic and security importance" for Israel.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has lobbied the United States to formally recognize Israel 's annexation of the territory, including by launching a public appeal for US aid, while the United States has announced that it will not be able to do so. he hosted state secretary Mike Pompeo in Jerusalem on Wednesday.
"After 52 years, it is time for the United States to fully recognize Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights, which is critically important to the security and strategy of the state of Israel." and regional stability! "said Trump.
Trump's declaration marks a dramatic turning point in official American politics since 1967, when the Golan Heights were seized for the first time in Syria before being effectively annexed in 1981. This approval also places the government in the lead. US administration in the position to support a key political priority of the three weeks of Netanyahu. before the Israeli national elections and a few days before the Israeli leader's visit to Washington.
"As Iran seeks to use Syria as a platform to destroy Israel, President Trump boldly recognizes Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights," Netanyahu wrote in English on Twitter. "Thank you President Trump!"
Trump will welcome Netanyahu to the White House next week for meetings and a private dinner hosted by his son-in-law and Middle East advisor, Jared Kushner.
Trump's statement follows other actions sought by Netanyahu, including the relocation of the US Embbady in Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and the withdrawal of the US agreement on the nuclear deal with Iran. Trump also closed the US political bureau used by the Palestinian Authority and a US diplomatic mission established decades ago to Palestinians in Jerusalem.
In addition, Trump agreed to leave 400 US troops in Syria after initially announcing that he would completely close his military mission. The departure of the United States has alarmed Israelis and pro-Israel American lawmakers, although Netanyahu has said he respects Trump's decision.
Israel has been seeking international recognition of its sovereignty over the Golan territory for years, but Netanyahu has intensified its efforts with US authorities and lawmakers in recent months. He has prominent Republican allies, including Sense. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) And Ted Cruz (R-Tex.).
Graham and Cruz are pushing for legislation that says the US has a national interest in ensuring "Israel retains control of the Golan Heights" as the Syrian war ends and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad remains in power.
Graham, who traveled the Golan Heights with Netanyahu earlier this month, tweeted his support for Trump's statement: "President Trump's decision to recognize the Golan as part of Israel is strategically sound and globally impressive. Bravo, Mr. President! Now, with Senator @tedcruz, I will try to get Congress to follow your example. "
Israel's ambbadador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, welcomed Trump's statement.
"We are at the beginning of a historic moment for the state of Israel," he said in a statement. "President Trump once again proves the strength of the alliance between the United States and Israel. The time has come for the world to recognize that the Golan Heights are an inseparable part of the state of Israel. "
Netanyahu and his main rival in the elections, former Israeli army chief of staff, Benny Gantz, have championed permanent Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights. The two voters are neck and neck in the polls before the elections on 9 April.
Netanyahu, who is fighting corruption charges, has boasted repeatedly about his close relationship with Trump and the successful recognition of Jerusalem by the United States last year.
Huge roadside billboards in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv show the two leaders shaking hands, with the slogan "Netanyahu, in a different league."
Pompeo had refused to discuss the Golan request with reporters traveling with him and had declared that it would be inappropriate to comment on Israeli domestic politics. He denied that the timing of his visit was an indication of his support for Netanyahu before the vote. US officials said the purpose of the visit was to discuss regional issues, including the limitation of Iran's power in the region.
Israel has repeatedly sounded alarm bells about the retrenchment of Iranian forces from the other side of the Syrian border.
Before Netanyahu and Pompeo meet on Tuesday night, the Israeli leader has called for international recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights.
"You can imagine what would have happened if Israel had not been in the Golan Heights," he said. "We would have Iran on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. It is time for the international community to recognize Israel's stay in the Golan Heights, the fact that the Golan will remain a part of the State of Israel. "
In break with the protocol of previous administrations, Pompeo visited the Wailing Wall with Netanyahu Wednesday afternoon. Former state secretaries have avoided visiting the Jewish holy site alongside Israeli officials, fearing that such a gesture would be perceived as a recognition of Israeli sovereignty on the site. The wall is in East Jerusalem, on the territory of the United Nations and a large part of the international community is considered illegally occupied.
Netanyahu and Pompeo, accompanied by the US ambbadador to Israel, David Friedman, placed notes on the wall, a religious tradition.
Morris brought back from Jerusalem. John Wagner and Carol Morello in Washington contributed to this report.
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