An old Israeli military tank looking over from the Israeli border with Syria, near Druze Village of Majdal Shams in Golan Heights (Photo Credit: Modified image from REUTERS by AMMAR AWAD)

EUROPEAN UNION – Foreign policy chief of the European Union, Federica Mogherini released a statement on Wednesday. It was made on behalf of all 28 EU States and said that “The EU does not recognize Israeli sovereignty over the occupied Golan Heights.”

About Golan Heights

Golan Heights is a region of Syria that is around 690 square miles. The Golan Heights had been captured from Syria and occupied by Israel as a result of the Six-Day War. Israel effectively annexed the territory in 1981. Included in the region is the western two-thirds of the geological Golan Heights, and also the area occupied by Israel which is part of Mount Hermon.

Since the Six-Day War in 1967, the western two-thirds of Golan Heights has been under occupation and administered by Israel, while the remaining eastern third has remained under control of the Syrian Arab Republic.

Following Israel annexing Golan Heights, Israel extended its laws there under the Golan Heights Law. The United Nations Security Council condemned these actions in Resolution 497, which states, “the Israeli decision to impose its laws, jurisdiction, and administration in the occupied Syrian Golan Heights is null and void and without international legal effect”, and also Resolution 242, which says “inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by war”. Israel asserts its rights over the Golan, and cites text in UN Resolution 242, that mentions about “safe and recognized boundaries free from threats or acts of force”.

The Golan Heights also has some other entries into history, which can be found on the Golan Heights Wikipedia page.

President Trump’s proclamation

This rejection comes after U.S. President Donald Trump declared that it is time to recognize the nation of Israel’s sovereignty of Golan Heights. President Trump signed a proclamation on Monday which reversed over a half-century worth of U.S. policy in the Middle East. This happened during a planned visit to Washington D.C. by Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu.

The entire EU rejects Israel’s claim to Golan Heights

Here is the EU Council Press announcing the statement in a Tweet on Wednesday:

Declaration by the High Representative @FedericaMog on behalf of the EU on the #GolanHeights: The position of the EU has not changed. The EU does not recognise Israeli sovereignty over the occupied Golan Heights. Full text: https://t.co/iJAUESEXiQ — EU Council Press (@EUCouncilPress) March 27, 2019

In Conclusion

The Full Text says the EU’s “unanimous” position by all 28 state members does not change their stance which is in line with U.N. resolutions that identify the Golan Heights as occupied territory. The entire EU rejects the seizure of the land by force.

In other recent news, 2020 Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Cory Booker, has recently landed himself in “hot water” after his close ties to AIPAC were revealed in leaked audio from an AIPAC convention. AIPAC is a pro-Israel PAC which may hold an influence on the candidate, both while he is serving in congress, and if he manages to become U.S. President. Not only that, but also Booker’s ties to the Pharmaceutical industry.

Kyle James Lee – Activate Now – This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.