by Ariel Kahana
Measure says area is "critical" to Israel's national security
The Golan Heights
Photo: Gil Eliyahu / JINI
For the first time
since over five decades, the Senate is poised to consider a resolution
calling on the U.S. government to recognize Israeli sovereignty on the
Golan Heights. The draft resolution was introduced by pro-Israel
Republican Sens. Ted Cruz and Tom Cotton on Tuesday.
Israel captured parts of the Golan Heights
from Syria during the 1967 Six-Day War. The area, which was officially
annexed by Israel, includes the strategically important Mount Hermon.
The draft resolution notes that "until
1967, Syria controlled the Golan Heights and used the topographical
advantage it provided to attack Israeli troops and civilians." It also
stressed that the area must continue to stay under Israeli control, as
it has proved its vital necessity to the Jewish state. "In October 1973,
the Golan Heights provided Israel with critical strategic depth to
repel a surprise attack by Syrian forces," it notes, referring to the
Yom Kippur War.
It further stresses that the "Golan Heights
is critical to Israel's national security" and that "it is in the
United States' national security interest to ensure Israel's security."
Cruz and Cotton will officially table the
motion in 2019. The two issued the following statement on Monday:
"Israel's northern border is threatened by Iranian forces and their
proxies in Lebanon and Syria, including Hezbollah's 150,000 rockets,
armed drones, newly discovered terror tunnels and more. Meanwhile, with
the [Iranian] ayatollahs' help, [Syrian President] Bashar Assad's regime
is on the verge of securing victory in Syria's civil war. He may soon
turn his attention back to threatening the Jewish state." Cruz and
Cotton added: "Israel gained possession over the Golan Heights in a
defensive war over 50 years ago and has responsibly controlled the area
ever since. It's past time for the United States to recognize reality by
affirming Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights."
The resolution, if passed, will only have a
symbolic meaning because it is not a bill and because the U.S. Supreme
Court has already ruled that only the executive branch can decide on
U.S. policy when it comes to recognizing the sovereignty of other
countries.
Officials in the Trump administration have
indicated in recent months that they were open to an official U.S.
recognition of the Golan Heights as sovereign Israeli territory. U.S.
Ambassador to Israel David Friedman told Israel Hayom in September that
he "can't imagine a circumstance where the Golan Heights will be
returned to Syria." He added: "I can't think of a less deserving person
to receive this kind of reward than [Syrian President] Bashar Assad."
Ariel Kahana
Source: http://www.israelhayom.com/2018/12/19/gop-senators-unveil-measure-recognizing-israeli-sovereignty-over-golan-heights/
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