Benjamin Netanyahu has revealed he wants to name a new settlement in the Golan Heights after Donald Trump out of gratitude for US recognition of Israel’s sovereignty over the territory.

The Israeli prime minister was touring the area on Tuesday and said there was a “need to express our appreciation” to his ally.

Mr Netanyahu said he would soon table “a resolution calling for a new community on the Golan Heights named after President Donald J. Trump”.

In March Mr Trump officially recognised Israeli sovereignty over the territory it captured from Syria in a 1967 war. Israel later passed a law to annexe the mountain plateau in 1981.

The move was unrecognised by most of the international community for several decades – until the Trump administration broke with other world powers and signed a decree recognising Israeli sovereignty.

Trump backs Israel’s annexation of Golan Heights Show all 7 1 /7 Trump backs Israel’s annexation of Golan Heights Trump backs Israel’s annexation of Golan Heights An Israeli soldier stands next to signs pointing out distances to different cities on Mount Bental, an observation post in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights Reuters Trump backs Israel’s annexation of Golan Heights Druze people take part in a rally in Majdal Shams near the ceasefire line between Israel and Syria Reuters Trump backs Israel’s annexation of Golan Heights Israeli Druzes sit together watching the Syrian side of the Israel-Syria border on the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights Reuters Trump backs Israel’s annexation of Golan Heights A European member of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) using binoculars to look towards the Syrian side of the Golan Heights AFP/Getty Trump backs Israel’s annexation of Golan Heights A file photo taken on October 19, 1973 shows Israeli Defence Minister General Moshe Dayan (R) looking towards the Syrian side of the Golan Heights, four days after the beginning of the Yom Kippur War AFP/Getty Trump backs Israel’s annexation of Golan Heights A file photo taken on the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights on September 5, 2014 shows members of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force Zone (UNDOF) using binoculars to look towards the Syrian side of the Golan Heights AFP/Getty Trump backs Israel’s annexation of Golan Heights Members of the United Nations peacekeepers standing on a watch tower during a visit by the Israeli Defence Minister in 2018 AFP/Getty

“All Israelis were deeply moved when President Trump made his historic decision,” Mr Netanyahu said in a video statement made on the Golan.

The Israeli leader – who won re-election for a fifth term in office earlier this month – said he would bring the resolution to government after the Jewish Passover festival.

An estimated 20,000 Israelis live in Golan Heights settlements, which most of the international community considers an illegal occupation.

Mr Trump’s Golan move followed his decision in December 2017 to recognise Jerusalem as the Israeli capital, breaking with decades of US policy over the status of a city contested by the Palestinians.

The Israeli government has said separately that – in appreciation of the US president – it intends to name a proposed train station near Jerusalem’s Western Wall after the US president.