Trump’s Golan Heights Stunt Ends Need for Israel-Syria-Palestine Talks - Scholar

The United States' decision to recognize Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights has reportedly increased tensions in the Middle East.

Last week, US President Donald Trump signed a proclamation formally recognizing Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights after meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House.

The Golan Heights has been mostly under Israel's control since the country seized the territory during the 1967 Six Day War. While Israel adopted a law to annex the territory in 1981, the United Nations declared the move void, without any legal effects. In 2018, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution urging Israel to immediately withdraw its forces from the territory after the country organized local elections in the area on 30 October.

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit has said that Arab countries unanimously recognize the right of Syria to the Golan Heights. Sputnik has discussed the issue with Milena Sterio, Professor of Law and Associate Dean for Academic Enrichment at Cleveland State University.

Sputnik: What is Trump's personal goal in supporting Israel? What is his primary objective?

Milena Sterio: Trump's primary goals and objectives: President Trump has consistently displayed his willingness to support Israel unconditionally, and he has criticized former President Obama for his own policies vis-a-vis Israel, which were more nuanced (for example, President Obama was not willing to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital, not willing to recognize Israel's sovereignty over Golan Heights, and demanded that Israel suspend building new settlements in the West Bank).

Thus, President Trump's general objective is to strengthen Israel's position in the Middle East, as well as to weaken the position of those countries which are perceived as Israeli enemies (Syria, Iran, etc.).

https://sputniknews.com/analysis/201904011073719670-golan-heights-usa-syria-palestine-impact/