Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday welcomed US President Donald Trump's "historic" pledge to recognise Israel's disputed annexation of the Golan, which it seized from Syria in 1967.
"At a time when Iran seeks to use Syria as a platform to destroy Israel, President Trump boldly recognises Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights," he wrote on his personal Twitter account. "Thank you President Trump!"
Trump's statement of intent on the strategic plateau Israel seized in the 1967 Six-Day War came after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visited Jerusalem and stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Netanyahu at the Western Wall in the city's Israeli-annexed eastern sector.
It was the first time such a high-ranking US official visited the site in mainly Palestinian east Jerusalem alongside an Israeli premier.
Both US gestures serve to boost Netanyahu's campaign for a fifth term, less than three weeks before Israel's April 9 elections.
Netanyahu's office said that he spoke to Trump by phone and thanked him personally for his decision, telling him: "You made history.".
Netanyahu has been pushing for the White House to recognise Israel's sovereignty over the Golan and Trump tweeted Thursday that "it is time" to do so.
Pompeo's visit with the premier to the Western Wall, one of the holiest in Judaism, could be taken as tacit approval of Israel's sovereignty over the city's eastern sector, which is claimed by the Palestinians.
Israel sees the entire city as its undivided capital.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday welcomed US President Donald Trump’s “historic” pledge to recognise Israel’s disputed annexation of the Golan, which it seized from Syria in 1967.
“At a time when Iran seeks to use Syria as a platform to destroy Israel, President Trump boldly recognises Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights,” he wrote on his personal Twitter account. “Thank you President Trump!”
Trump’s statement of intent on the strategic plateau Israel seized in the 1967 Six-Day War came after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visited Jerusalem and stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Netanyahu at the Western Wall in the city’s Israeli-annexed eastern sector.
It was the first time such a high-ranking US official visited the site in mainly Palestinian east Jerusalem alongside an Israeli premier.
Both US gestures serve to boost Netanyahu’s campaign for a fifth term, less than three weeks before Israel’s April 9 elections.
Netanyahu’s office said that he spoke to Trump by phone and thanked him personally for his decision, telling him: “You made history.”.
Netanyahu has been pushing for the White House to recognise Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan and Trump tweeted Thursday that “it is time” to do so.
Pompeo’s visit with the premier to the Western Wall, one of the holiest in Judaism, could be taken as tacit approval of Israel’s sovereignty over the city’s eastern sector, which is claimed by the Palestinians.
Israel sees the entire city as its undivided capital.
