This is what happens when you leave Jared Kushner in charge of Mideast “peace” portfolio. The guy who had sleepovers at the Kushners, Bibi Netanyahu, gets preferential treatment.
1
This move serves no good purpose apart from giving Trump and Kushner another chance to sustain good relations with Netanyahu with whom they have had personal relations for a long time.
This decision along with moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem confirms to the world that the U.S. cannot be trusted to be a rational and unbiased mediator if Israel is involved. Trump has basically removed the U.S. from any foreign relations related to peace negotiations between Israel, the Palestinian Arabs and the hostile neighbors of Israel. Netanyahu and Putin both have the U.S. exactly where they want them to be.
This along with Trump’s graceless condoning of Mohammed bin Salman’s barbaric autocratic misrule and belligerency have pretty much turned the U.S. into a helpless and mistrusted giant across North Africa and southern Eurasia. His misguided attempts to con North Korea’s Kim into playing nice and his pathetic cowering with Putin and denigration of the European democracies have pretty much made our country a crazy and impotent has been superpower. Trump has pretty much unraveled the world’s trust in America in just over two years.
Those who praise this man’s great job in office are mesmerized. When they wake up, they will not understand how the world became so unstable and impossible in which to conduct world affairs.
3
While it obviously must be said that Israel only occupied the Golan Heights as part of repelling Syrian attackers, it must also be said that most invaders spin a tail of being attacked first: Hitler invading Poland in response to a fictional Polish attack is a good example. I am not accusing Israel of this; I am only saying that recognizing the acquisition of land via warfare--defensive or offensive--sets the stage for all sorts of mischief.
5
President Trump isn't president or Prime Minister of Israel. It's his duty to ensure that American foreign policy serves U.S. strategic interests, not necessarily Israel's, and this decision most definitely fails to do that.
5
Just the latest chapter from the master of "The Art of the Steal." We've already read the chapter about how to steal funds that your government allocated for another purpose to build a wall by using a "national emergency," Now the latest headline grabbing chapter encourages others like his corrupt autocratic colleague who's also under investigation and about to be indicted, Bibi Netanyahu, to show his "bigly" support before the election by unilaterally recognizing the theft of conquered land as part of Israel. Stay tuned for the deal to build a Trump International Resort and Gulf Club on the Golan Heights followed by another in Crimea.
7
Hmmm? And Mike Pompeo states to the evangelical press that God sent Donald Trump to save Israel from Iran?
Is there possibly any connection between the Golan Heights announcement, the impending release of the Mueller Report, and the Israeli election?
Or should we just trust that God works in mysterious ways? I think that's a big fat no.
Suckered once shame on you. Suckered twice shame on me.
5
Did DJT clear this with jared?
I mean this whole Middle East thing is his “project”, right?
The sad and serious truth is that this decision does nothing but increase animosity in an already tense part of the world.... just the way putin wants it!
BTW- has anyone seen mitch?
No? Maybe he is working from home today!?
7
An Israel annexation of the Golan Heights or the West Bank should be treated no differently than Russia's annexation of the Crimea. Such an act would flout international law and should be condemned by all who respect the law. That leaves out Trump and Netanyahu obviously.
9
How about the Kushner development project in the disputed area as reported by Newsweek?
4
What an excellent tactic he has chosen to distract everyone. Trump may be a despicable human being, but he is the master of controlling the public narrative.
6
Americans and others who have visited the Golan Heights, describe the area as beautiful and with many sights to see.
The Israelis, who have been at war for most of the time they have lived in the area, describe G.H. in more practical terms .
"High ground that we must keep to protect ourselves from the Syrians who have the habit of lobbing artillery shells down on us when they had control of that " beautiful and scenic" high ground.
The european Jews who were allowed to move to that area seventy years ago have been defending themselves most of that time. Their ground is only "Safe,Unsafe or Tactical"
"Beautiful "land is only for others who have not been attacked by their neighbors six times in 34 years. 1948.49,56,67,73,82. Lucky for the Israelis, they won all six of those wars or they would have no land at all.
Netanyahu is not so "wonderful" but the Israelis still have their land under his leadership so they are hesitant to change leadership.
They are not looking for a Mr. Wonderful to lead them.
For better or worse, they choose Benjamin Netanyahu to help them keep their land.
Their history is one of persecution and they feel threatened
after six attacks which doesn't make the people of Israel easy to deal with.
Netanyahu, is a natural leader for them and the Golan Heights helps to protect them.
It would be better if Donald Trump doesn't make any announcements about Israel, their neighbors or the Golan Heights.
Better men have tried and failed.
1
It seems that Trump has a knack for inciting violence both here and abroad through his words and deeds. Here are just a few recent examples. The pipe bomber here in the US, the New Zealand shooter and now, according to Saeb Erekat, yet to be named individuals in the Middle East. Isn’t the world lucky to have him in the Oval Office?
2
The Middle east is complicated going back to before the 1967 WAR. Trump throwing his Two Cents in only makes it more of a Mess. When Carter brokered a deal with Israel and Egypt he did gave No Signals he he sided with either Country.
3
Policy, smolicy. There was no way Israel was ever going to surrender the Golan Heights and allow Syria or Lebanon or whatever ragtag terrorist group came down the pike to occupy it and bombard Israel below. No nation worthy of calling itself one would.
3
So, we are telling the world that occupying land by force is OK. So, if Russia occupies America by force it is OK and then everybody has to agree with that. And, if Hitler occupies poland or France then everybody should recognize the legitimacy of his occupation. So, what do we stand for then? Is this the world that Trump is taking us to? Where is Congress ? where is Nancy Pelosi. Trump is telling the world : use your guns to grab any country you like and it is OK we'll recognize your right to occupation . What is wrong with America? we are letting this filth of a man actually destroy the world . Any body in Congress has any decency any more?
7
Since when has one rogue nation - indeed, one rogue leader of that nation - been able to proclaim the status of others’ national sovereignty, against the judgment of virtually every other nation in the world? That is the real danger here.
8
Who seriously believes that Trump thought of making this announcement all by himself.
It certainly is serving Putin's interests - it justifies his annexation of countries the UN - and the USA before Lord Littlefingers took over - have condemned.
If I were living in the Baltic region, I'd be worried.
5
The Trump administration never takes into consideration the plight of the Palestinians. They act as if they simply don't exist or at the very least, don't matter. How they believe that will help lead to peace in the region is beyond comprehension. And this is only the latest example.
5
Can anyone honestly suggest that this announcement by Mr. Trump was anything other than a political move intended to boost Netanyahu's chances in the election? All Mr. Trump is capable of considering in every imaginable circumstance are the political or financial benefits that might come to him as a result of his actions.
I'm not nearly well enough schooled on the politics of the Middle East to offer much of an opinion about the wisdom or foolishness of this announcement, so I will leave that for others. But I will say the suggestion that this announcement (one that caught Mr. Pompeo by surprise) is part of some sort of master foreign policy plan being conducted by "the smartest, best educated, most popular, and infallible" US President ever in the history of the known universe, is laughable beyond belief.
This is unthinking political gamesmanship, and it has no purpose beyond helping Netanyahu, and ultimately helping Mr. Trump solidify a few more votes in the 2020 election. This has absolutely nothing to do with making the world a better or safer place.
6
This unfortunate decision highlight two realities of which will lead to war.. the second is this policy shift undermines the US argument on Russia's annexation of Crimea.
Syria has now experienced war. The fear of tribulation is now over and so is inexperience of facing death. Their blood is up. Lastly, ultimately, it helps Assad and Syrian nationalists. Russia's annexation of Crimea was based on it's legitimate fear for it's security. Israel policy towards Israel is the same. Although one could argue that with the military hardware that exists today, the hills of Golan do not offer the same advantage.
3
Fifty-two years ago, the Golan Heights was a great place for Syria to use to attack Israeli citizens while they were farming or just going about their ordinary lives. Now Iran is "helping" Syria get back on its feet and moving its weapons into proximity of the Israeli border. Remember, just recently when ending the revolt, Syria pretty much wiped out an entire town of Palestinians and gas killed and maimed many Syrians and others.
Syria and Iran would like the Golan Heights back, as it would be a great place to put missiles and to have more Syrian lifestyle with Iranian influence. For that reason, leaving control of the Golan Heights in limbo with the hope that Israel will give up everything, Abbas will jump up and say amen, we are at peace, Hamas leaders will join with Abbas and wars in the area will cease forever is pure fantasy.
Correcting the Palestinian situation won't end all problem in the area. Their problems have been a tool other countries used so that their residents wouldn't look too hard at how they were living and what rights and opportunities they were lacking. In the pre 1967 era, there was no urgent plea to make areas then controlled by Egypt and Jordan and now by Israel into an independent state. Instead, the goal was to boycott Israel and fight it in order to push its people into the sea and end Israel's existence.
Golan Heights in Israel's hands may push peace more than would returning it to Syria or another condemnation of Israel.
1
Trump shows a pattern of passiveness in foreign policy of actually withdrawing the U.S. from involvement in the international community that is jaw dropping. In case after case he talks tough and struts like an alpha type but then just walks away from every challenge. It’s just amazing that not one member of Congress even acknowledges what is going on. I think that he’s bamboozled everybody.
1
The Golan Heights will be become a fabulous resort for exiled ex-Presidents, Prime Ministers, deposed dictators and will be renamed 'Oligarch Oasis'.
2
I have to say that even tho my family is Jewish I no longer support Israel.
4
we can debate as to whether this recognition is simply a reflection of reality. But I think it is clear that it is another provocation of the Arab world, one which is the opposite of what is needed to achieve peace and stability in the area. Kind of like recognizing the settlements in the West Bank. Granted, there is plenty of provocation from the Palestinian side, in the form of anti-Semitism and violence. But this move about the Golan is just one more rallying cry for terrorism, and a reason not to bother talking things over with the other side.
1
Perhaps on their next visits to Israel, Trump and Pompeo will visit the summit of the Golan Heights to see for themselves its commanding importance for Israel's defense.
1
Don't we already know by his zero batting average that whatever our Fearless Leader embraces must necessarily be a bad (the wrong) choice? This announcement only confirms the correctness of this country not having taken this position until now.
2
From the view-point of who is the least informed individual in DC, it stands to reason that Trump would have minimal awareness that Netanyahu faces possible indictment on bribery and corruption charges—however, given that Trump is the most savvy world leader on using distractionary machinations in the face of corruption charges, it's hard to believe he hasn’t.
After decades of cautionary stands on Israel’s covetousness of their neighbor's property, Trump boldly does what no president (all of whom were wiser than him) has done. He's urging recognition of Israel’s occupation of the Golan Heights as legitimate. Though his gratuitous announcement changes little, it does put him at odds with international law and previous American The Arab League condemns his decision that may encourage other leaders to grab some land for themselves.
As many Americans, I have long opposed Isreal's land-grabbing tactics. I am particularly upset that Pompeo has gone so far as to suggest that God might be behind our so-called leader's push (a violation of a centuries-old law about using the Lord's name in vain) to legitimize Israel’s occupation of land that is not theirs. If anyone is pushing for this, it's Trump's son-in-law. Although he's Jewish it is doubtful he want's it for religious purposes.
Something seems rotten here. There's nothing more distracting than war.
3
This is not even a matter of principle. The US has implicitly accepted the status quo in the Golan for 52 years. Out of nowhere comes Trump, taking yet another opportunity to incite hostility, hatred and violence.
3
"Recognition of Israeli sovereignty of Golan Heights" sure sounds like what used to be known as a 'bargaining chip', back before Master Negotiator and Deal Maker Trump started giving things away for nothing in return.
How come the self-annointed "King of the Deal" keeps giving away US policy positions without even asking for any concession or matching gestures in return? I need to go read Trump's 'great book', because this sure doesn't look like an "art-ful deal" to me.
2
I give it six months for the announcement of the Trump Grand Golan Casino Resort.
4
Trump playing to his cult base and helping a fellow criminal win election. Ray Sipe
3
For anyone who's been to this area, they'll know Israel's taking over land by force, settlements and building barriers are to choke off access for people (non-Jewish people) to get from one place to another easily. It is not in the name of "peace" and not the security threat it likes to claim. If it is OK for Israel, does that mean it's OK for Russia to annex by force too? What about other countries in Middle East who take over area by force to move borders? Not-so-curious timing gift for Netanyahu before elections. Calling out Israel, btw, does not make people anti-semitic.
6
Sorry, but to present this as a "significant shift of decades-long American policy" is really misleading, in suggesting that a policy -- the result of thought, analysis, and expertise -- has been changed by Trump creates a false narrative.
Trump doesn't "do policy" -- or anything that involves thoughtful analysis and rational decision-making. He acts on whims and the spur-of-the-moment.
Or on the prospect of somehow making more lucre fro himself and his family businesses. Netanyahu probably offered Trump some blandishment (loans, campaign gifts, hotel contracts?) to sweeten the pot too!
4
In1967 most Arabic countries under the leadership of Nasser joined in, to literally destroy Israel. They lost. They have relenquished their rights to what they lost. This practice has been in existence for centuries. Giving them what they lost as the aggressors does not set a good precedent. They took the risk, they lost. they are paying the price.
3
Unstable Trump adding fuel to the fire of an unstable Middle
East.
4
Trump has done it again. Made an issue of something that wasn’t an issue to make himself look strong. Syria isn’t even a functioning country anymore.
2
Won the Golan heights in 1967? That is when"Israeli aircraft and torpedo boats attacked the USS Liberty in international waters off Egypt’s Gaza Strip. The USS Liberty, flying our Flag, "was attacked first by Israeli aircraft that fired napalm and rockets at the ship".
That is the shame. They Own Us and killed our sailors with no response and, in fact, no apology. We are still without a spine, when the World wants to say no more.
5
It is unfair to blame Israel for the actions of Mr. Trump.
1
Your president wants to be able to gear up for a war in 2020 so he can get re-elected. This is a useful step towards doing that. The US is a warist society so you vote for presidents when they start wars, regardless of how stupid or immoral they are. Your president is indifferent to how many people the US kills (as, typically, is the US population) and indifferent to how many US soldiers die, the environmental destruction it will produce, the debt load it will add and the alliances it will fragment and break. He’s a narcissistic child and there is, apparently, nobody in the Republican Party who will put basic human decency or the best interests of their country (let alone the rest of the planet) before their own short term self interest.
2
So all it takes is a twitter message from the POTUS and a policy that has been in place since 1967 can be reversed?
Bye Bye Democracy; Hello Dictatorship
2
"Mr. Trump brushed aside suggestions that he was trying to help Mr. Netanyahu in the election, professing to be only vaguely aware of the Israeli leader’s political challenges. "
And we are supposed to believe that? Liar, liar, Trump's pants are on fire!
1
For Netanyahu and Israel trump is nothing more than a drug dealer. They keep coming back for one more hit. The drug dealer is not interested in their well-being only his own. Those taking the drug risk a fatal overdose, as does everyone in trump's orbit.
This demonstrates that Israel and its friends in the US don't want peace. They just want land.
2
The Golan Heights was never, ever going back to Syria. This is Trump doing p.r. for Bibi's campaign. Shameless for all concerned!
3
Trump isn't concerned with the problems he creates for the Middle East; his only concern with the Golan Heights is gaining more Jewish votes in America.
While praising the intelligence of the American electorate, he secretly knows that they can be led around like a bulls with nose rings - only instead of bull rings, he uses their beliefs and prejudices to lead them wherever he wants.
If DJT doesn't destroy our fragile democracy, he has published the blueprint and playbook for some other demagogue to do it later. If a democracy like America's is going to exist, there will have to be a paradigm shift in human thought throughout the world.
In the near future, we will program the human mind in the computer based on a "survival" algorithm, which will provide irrefutable proof as to how we trick the mind with our ridiculous beliefs about what is supposed to survive - producing minds programmed de facto for destruction. These minds would see the survival of a particular group of people or a belief as more important than the survival of all. When we understand all this, we will begin the long trek back to reason and sanity.
See RevolutionOfReason.com
1
It is a breakdown of international law and norms. Wild, wild, west reigns. This move and declaration of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital makes less legitmate. Whst a joke “oasis of democracy.”
2
One could never accuse Trump of either being homophobe or anti semitic.
Classic Trump! via Twitter - with little understanding of the history, complexities, & sensitivity of an issue (Golan Heights) he makes a declaration that goes against years of U.S. policy - and by doing so supports Netanyahu, his buddy who is up on criminal charges & for re - election
1
Any American [or "dual citizen"] who supports this nonsense should pick up their things and LEAVE! Go live over there! I'm tired of these snobs who live in the comfort and safety of the United States but profess love and loyalty to another nation and expect the U.S. to pay for that desert strip of sand and dust. Enough is enough! Freeloaders!
3
Of course he did that on purpose
1
Oh my, such wringing of hands in these comments. How about a greater "risk roiling the Middle East" if Israel gave up the Golan Heights? Ever think about that scenario?
1
Maybe the gods have had enough and want to start all over. This should be the perception for those who believe and here is why:
Vladimir Putin and the Russian people took Crimea, and nobody wanted to challenge them.
Donald Trump and his supporters who believe the gods gave him to Israel for Benjamin Netanyahu to take possession of the Golan Heights and nobody wants to challenge them.
This is strike 2 for the world.
And here could be strike 3:
Xi Jinping and the Chinese leaders all claim title to what was once Formosa and is now Taiwan. If they were to take title to this island nation this could be the start of the end for the human race as local wars will undoubtably start which, like the initiator of WWI, we would be on the precipice of WWIII and this time using nuclear weapons this world could be totally wiped out.
Maybe that is what those gods out there want, for their attempts so far have been a failure, and maybe they want to collectively try again. Remember that they also created the rules for baseball and 3 strikes have always been the limit, right?
Well, are you ready?
I know what we should do! Instead of building walls and fighting against the invading hordes, we should just annex Mexico. We have the military might, the money and frankly, why should we care about international law or national sovereignty. Make America greater and greater! So let's make this clear. The Golan Heights now belong legally to Israel because Trump said so in a tweet?
.
Some risk:
"...roiling the Mid East"
.
1
Trump “Wants?” Please...if it’s not in a skirt or covered in Special Sauce he has no more knowledge/interest in the subject than he does in reading and writing.
“Trump’s Handlers Want...”, works. Let’s leave it at that.
1
There’s no oil in the Golan Heights, so who cares?
The US can be complicit in Israel’s land theft all it wants, but it won’t change international law, not that the US respects that.
1
Why does the article not mention at all that Israel was attacked in 1967 and considers the Golan a protective buffer, particularly given its “heights”. Regardless of your opinion on this leaving this out of the article is odd.
2
On the one hand, I doubt it was a good idea for the state of Israel to be placed into the most hostile environment on earth. But now that it's there, I condone whatever the Jews think is needed to guarantee their safe existence. And that includes "land grabs" in response to hostilities. Most borders in this world are and have always been the result of wars won and lost. The pursuit and defence of territory seems to be a fundamental part of animal biology, not restricted to the human species. UN resolutions won't change that.
1
His dad and Netanyahu were friendly but This seems to be about swinging Florida in 2020. It’s certainly not about good US/world policy.
2
The minimum that should be said is that it reinforces the impression that the time has long gone when Israel was towed by the United States, and that we have entered a time when it is the opposite.
This impression is more and more widespread not only around the world but inside the United States themselves, and when American public opinion reaches the clear conclusion that this change in power politics is at the origin both of the never-ending wars that the U.S. is waging in the Middle East and of terrorism, the political consequences will be heavy for America’s life. Of course, for the moment nobody in the U.S. dares to express the conclusion in question for the fear of being accused of antisemitism, but that moment will pass.
Mauro Lucentini
New York
1
Trump bolster Netanyahu but risk riling the Middle East. This is exactly what he intended to do. His extremist base and Fox News will rally behind him. Never mind going against the norms.
This is also a policial win for Netanyahu who is facing multiple charges of corruption in Israel.
Trump and his White House advisers know exactly when to feed red meat to his base; they all love Netanyahu and despise Muslims.
2
so what is it that Representitive Omar said again?
2
So then, is Israel ready for every person in the Golan Heights to become an Israeli citizen? The One State resolution has been opposed by Israel and the Palestinians. It will only get people killed. How many Israelis should die to keep Netanyahu in power?
Read: Trump ('s son-in-law) Wants US to Recognize Israeli Sovereignty Over the Golan Heights
1
I have been suggesting for many years that "The land of Israel" should be adopted as one more state ("51st"), by the Union.
Well, now that Trump has very openly been Interfering in Israeli Politics, especially the April Election there, and Netanyahu’s famous interfering in the U.S.'s politics: his speech to Congress, attacking Obama's Iran deal), My uniting vision is closer to realization. Hurrah! Every Israeli's DREAM will come through; An American Passport. And the U>S> will have its Borders moved closer to Iran, Russia, Saudis Egypt - ETC. Hurrah!
2
Trump's thoughts at midnight on Twitter. "I'll nail down the Jewish vote in the next election. I can see it now, the biggest and most glorious Trump Hotel ever in Israel. Other presidents just talk, while I actually get things done. Come to think of it, a war in the Middle East might be just what we need to stop all this impeachment nonsense."
2
Now that our president has tweeted that Israel owns the Golan Heights, we'll be seeing a lot more bullets and missiles fired at Israel's iron dome by Arab countries in the Middle East. Our president doesn't think; he rules by tweet. American foreign policy is determined by social media these days.
1
Just a coincidence of timing Bibi is up for reelection and criminal charges at the present time. NO Collusion. Oh I am bad.
1
Didn’t the Israelis win the Golan Heights and the West Bank after being attacked by Arab countries in 1967? Seems to me they won that land fair and square. Time to move on...
This idea isn't going anywhere. It is just Trump pressing his finger down on the scale to tip the election to his buddy Netanyahu.
Wrong, wrong, wrong .
For reasons ad nauseam!
No , No , No. For so many reasons.
This malignant child is ruining us!
2
Israel is our only friend in the Middle East and we should do all we can to help her.
1
Mister Indyk and Mr. Ross are know for their spectacular Middle East failures.What chutzpah to criticize new policies to correct their failures.
2
Hmm. I'm thinking this is really a Trump2020 political move to boost the "Jexodus" campaign by the Republicans. What better way to brand Democrats as anti-semitic and Republicans as the Jewish-friendly party?
1
Well, the POTUS does what he wants and gets away with it
2
It's rather a classic case of men of like feather sticking together. Castro and Chavez, Hitler and Mussolini, people who fought for different ideologies, but shared an instinct for dictatorship.
Clearly, Netanyahu is the smart one of these two. God knows what Trump will receive out of the deal; perhaps a secure place to which he can flee when his 8 years are up.
It's a pity that the Democrats are too imbued with high school level ego politics to root Trump out next year. It seems the source of the problem is that the controller of the DNC is still Hillary and the controller of Hillary is...yes, of course.
We only have one lonely democrat announced so far who really grasps foreign affairs and talks about it as well as domestic policy and the DNC will not let her in.
So, given the quality of our leadership for the last 30 years it's logical that our administrations would align us with like-minded leaders such as Netanyahu.
Trump would not be able to point to the Golan Heights if you gave him a map. Trump is doing this favour for BiBi because now Bibi owes Trump big time. If Bibi is reelected Trump will call in his markers with BiBi. With Bibi's help[Trump will paint the Democrats as the Anti-Jewish Party. Both Trump and Bibi are facing charges of corruption so they do make strange bedfellows.
2
Now trump is redrawing international boarders ?
2
Netanyahu, Putin, Kim Jong-Un, and others - to put it in “old school” language – are all playing the President for a patsy.
The danger in being manipulative – and using manipulation as your primary business skill – is that you reveal yourself so clearly…to other master manipulators.
Netanyahu has played Trump well; and nothing has been achieved except perpetuating more discord, division, and unrest throughout the world.
If we’re not careful, we will soon be…Rome.
4
Is this the "grand deal" starting to take shape
(Jerusalem + Golan Heights + Sunni Arab/Israeli cooperation+ increased Jewish Republican voting block = Crimea acceptance + Iran regime change)?
1
Mr. Netanyahu, defacto dictator of Israel is the sort of leader our President is fond of. He admires the fact that Mr. Netanyahu remains in office after a number of scandals that should've brought him down. This is of course is besides the fact that the Presidents preferred method of introducing policy, Twitter, shouldn't be taken seriously.
3
This isn’t anything to do with President Trump. When it comes to the Middle East policy we are all in the United States are hostages in the hands of a coalition, including Extreme right, white supremacist, evangelical Christians who believe this is the will of God when he chose Trump as the chosen individual to lead the world into doomsday and return of Christ on a fast track. With circles of opportunists, warmongers, political and religious hypocrites surrounding this administration, may God help not only the victims of occupation in the region, but us all around the world.
1
Surprise, surprise! Oil and gas leases have been granted by Israel -- which doesn't have sovereignty over the Golan -- to a local subsidiary of U.S.-based Genie Energy. There are some familiar names here. Dick Cheney is an "adviser."
http://archive.is/cLGzh
Just a week or so ago, Netanyahu said the IDF "discovered" Hezbollah "terror cells" threatening their stake in the Golan. I was shocked! shocked! I tell you, by this convenient and timely discovery.
The "Deal of the Century" peace plan is really just another self-dealing exercise in throwing gasoline on smouldering fires.
1
There's no oil there, Mr Trump.
Does anyone think that Israel would ever even consider giving the Golan to Mr. Assad, euphemistically known as the Butcher of Damascus? How many hundreds of thousands of Syrians has he killed?
Just what would he do to Israel if he had the chance? Shower it with roses?
Just as an aside, historically, there was no real differentiation between Galilee and Golan. But that never makes on impression on anyone unless it is Arab history and not Jewish.
Syria used the Golan Heights to attack Israel. They lost it in a war.
Why give their peace-loving leaders a chance for a do-over?
2
A last ditch symbolic move to bolster Netanyahu ahead of tough elections.
The entire Middle East problem could be solved in less than 6 months, if it were as easy for an Israeli citizen to jump into our country and gain citizenship, as it is for a Guatemalan.
1
You can add Swaziland to Israel if you wish, but at the end the international law is very clear.
1
In the brief history of the Golan Heights included this paper it is said that the area is sparsely populated. Well, I think the paper should have included the information that more than 100.000 Syrians who lived there in 1967 were expelled (as usual) by Israel and that Israel bulldozered 200 villages. That is called ethnic cleansing.
3
Well, live by the tweet, die by the tweet.
There was a time, not too distant in the past I might add, when Jewish Americans always stood in solidarity when Israel was concerned.
Not so anymore.
The blind allegiance towards communism or radical socialism appears to have reprioritized allegiances among many of the one-time supporters of Israel.
Now, Mr. Netanyahu is a pariah in the eyes of the radical left because of his visible and continued support of Mr. Trump.
Legitimization of Golan Heights as Israeli territory is wise both in content and in timing. Golan Heights gives Israel much needed defensive territory. The political unraveling of Syria is the ideal moment to complete the annexation.
President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu should be congratulated for this critical decision that will make an eternal difference to the future of Israel.
The ilk of Ilhan Omar, Rashida Taib and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez will work for the destruction of Israel in concert with the leftists of the Democratic Party that now sadly includes many Jewish Americans with trumped up anti-Trump fervor.
2
Israel will keep pressing until the whole ship goes over the edge. The USA must conduct a serious investigation into Israeli-Russian schemings to elect Trump. The Saudi-Israeli-Russian connection is a very dangerous enemy we currently face. Most people don’t realize the extent, unfortunately.
2
It is now an accomplished fact that the Golan Heights belongs to Israel. When another country attacks you to drive you into the sea, so to speak, they need to be punished. Syria showed its intent in 1967 and this is the price they are paying. This is Israel’s Gibraltar. Even in this age, the high ground has security implications that cannot be denied.
The seizure of the Golan Heights cannot be compared to Saddam’s aggression against Kuwait, for example. Kuwait did not attempt to destroy Iraq.
The International Community needs to come up with a more flexible principle concerning the punishment for aggressor nations. There are times when justice demands compensation for unjust actions. Israel from its inception by the United Nations wanted to be at peace with its neighbors. The United Nations failed Israel in the beginning. It is hypocracy for the UN General Assembly to keep insisting that Israel give up the Golan Heights and comprise their security.
2
Does this mean the US is going back into Japan and Germany? Not taking territory by force of arms was one of the key tenets that arose from World War II, at least by the western allies. This is just more evidence of Trump's ignorance of international norms and practices and history.
3
The article "Brief History of the Golan Heights" is all to brief- starting with the Israeli capture of the Golan Heights from Syria in the Six Day War of 1967 instead of explaining why Israel did that. From 1948 until 1967 Syria occupied the Golan Heights and used it as a base for shelling Israeli settlements in the Jordan Valley and shooting at Israeli farmers working their land within the borders determined by the 1949 armistice between Israel and Syria. Or is that the situation that the UN would like to see return? Only this time with Hezbollah and Iran doing the shooting. Wake up world!
1
Trump and Netanyahu are marching us all straight back in time to early twentieth-century colonial-era politics. It's no wonder "the Arabs," as the Times calls the many people who live in a variety of countries under a variety of political systems, are sick of interference. Everyone, from China to Russia to Europe to the US, wants a piece of the Middle Eastern oil and shipping pie. World War III, anyone?
2
Trump, wether intended or not, has changed the conversation about the Middle East.
He has unilaterally and openly sided with the policies of Israeli annexation and expansion. He has singlehandedly declared that the Unites States now stands behind of a 'greater Israel' with ever expanding borders.
Trump has openly done what congress has covertly done with its annual 'we support Israel' resolutions and continuing aid packages, totaling some 134 billion dollars.
The US has both a national interest and a humanitarian interest in the security of the state of Israel.
But Trump has declared a policy that equates expansion with security. This has been the Likud position for decades. The question is whether this is really in America's interests?
The bigger question is one cannot take this position without asking, what will happen to the 4.5 million Palestinian people?
They have been under military occupation for 50 years and they have rights just as the Israeli's do. This ill conceived move by Trump has in effect declared Palestinians to be second class residents of an apartheid Israel.
The fact that the world condemned apartheid as a crime against humanity over a generation ago is lost on him.
But it has not been lost on the American people. The American sense of fair play supports Israeli security but it also supports the rights of the Palestinians as well.
Netanyahu knows this. But he also knows that Trump doesn't have a clue. This conversation needs to change.
2
More importantly, this shows that like other right wing strongmen around the world, Trump has no regard for International Law or UN sanctions. We are back to pre World War II norms of international behavior.
Trump's love affair with Israel is not based on any share democratic values since Palestinians have no rights under the Trump/Netanyahu view of the Mideast but rather based on
economics. Those are the economics of the Trump Enterprises and the Kushner enterprises. Plenty of funding has flowed to each from Israeli diamond merchants, banks and others who have helped build their empires. Cash is king in the real estate business and can easily be laundered through real estate acquisitions with little or no tax reporting. For Donald and Jared it is all business, all the time.
6
So Trump needs Natinyahu’s American Evangelical & hard-right Jewish support to get re-elected and Natinyahu needs Trumps’ support to stay in office & out of jail. You scratch my back & I’ll scratch yours.
6
Straight-up political move on Trump's part to brand those opposing as anti-Semites.
2
Reality is that this move has nothing to do with the Golan Heights or Israeli security, It is about survival! Political survival! It's a stunt that Trump has used often to divert attention from the enveloping scandal around him. It is a populist move that is designed to curry favor with his core Evangelicals and with Jewish voters. In this case it has a double bonus of offering a political lifeline to increasing desperate and scandal surrounded Prime Minister Netanyahu. Cheap politics without a single thought for consequences.
7
The miracle of Purim, indeed.
And maybe Trump's next interposition will be a celestial pre-emptive pardon of indictments of Netanyahu on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust.
Meanwhile, don't look over here while EPA clean water reg's get trashed, Atlantic drilling permits are sold off wholesale, in-laws use encrypted communications to conduct foreign policy, emoluments pour in, obstruction continues and so on, ad nauseum.
By the way, Donald O Lord of the Universe, there is a bit of a problem with flood waters of biblical proportions out there in the midwest, if you can spare a moment.
6
Putin interferes in the U.S. election to benefit Trump, and Trump interferes in the Israeli election to benefit Netanyahu. Or is it that Trump colludes with Russia to win an election, and now Netanyahu colludes with Trump to win an election.
In any case, none of these leaders have any ethical grounding. It's all about power and, as Ilhan Omar so correctly said quoting Puff Daddy's song, "It's all about the Benjamins."
9
I wonder how much longer Twitter would allow Trump’s account to continue. They were people banned for doing much less.
3
Had the US implemented this “Trump Doctrine” in 1967, that a winner-in-war take all, the Soviet Union would have been given all of the Eastern European countries (and East German) they occupied at that time. No Cold War to keep them from doing so and no further actions to prevent their spread to other areas.
4
It's possible that this seemingly politically motivated action on the President's part may actually improve the peace process. It's now time for the US to use the goodwill generated in the support of Israel to address the West Bank settlement issue and show an even hand approach to the needs of the Palestinian people.
2
This provocative action seems to have Jared and Ivanka’s stamp on it. Having family members as senior presidential advisers is totally against our country’s principles. In a way it’s the epitome of letting young children play with matches in a fireworks factory.
7
It is Trump or is it Putin who wants this announcement.
A lot of what Trump is doing seems to be of more benefit to Russia than anyone else.
3
Just when we are going to talk about Mueller's report, then this comes. What a brilliant tactic to divert attention.
3
I think it's time for Trump to recognize the Pakistan occupation of northern Kashmir too. This could end seventy years of wars and related bloodshed in that region too. UNMOGIP (UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan) could close down its offices in Srinagar and Islamabad and save the world body millions of dollars a year. The Line of control (LOC) could become the official border and millions of troops could stand down.
If more nations supported moves like this once de-facto boundaries have been in place for over fifty years, it would put pressure on adversaries to bury the hatchet and concentrate on improving living conditions for the people living in these war-torn areas. Let's build on such declarations instead of condemning them.
3
If the past 50 years have been a peaceful status quo, what's the point of doing anything to alter that? A greater Palestinian peace agreement?, Some form of peace with Syria? Anywhere?
And what about the Syrian's living there. Are they now to be Israeli citizens, or does their voice not matter at all?
1
I expect the policy reversal has more to due with Kushner/ Adelson - the latter a big campaign donor.
2
@Barbara
" Adelson - the latter a big campaign donor."
Edelson spent, according to him , $100 million on each of the 2012 & 2016 elections to benefit Israel.
Netanyahu is a life long family friend of Netanyahu.
The Kushners have financially supported the occupation/land theft of the West Bank by the foreigners.
Together it is called the Israel Lobby which via gaming the US election campaign funding system controls Congress & usually the WH.
1
Puts the U.S. squarely on the side of "power is right" and contrary to what FDR and the rest of the world were trying to accomplish by setting up the UN accompanied by all those treaties against war, against confiscation of property by force, etc.
We are back to the jungle.
4
Gee, why did he miss saying "this will bring us peace in our time"? Here is an idea, support American taxpayers as April 15th looms. The US is required by treaty to remove some nuclear weapons whose decommissioning costs are high. Why not give those weapons to Iran? There would then be a balance of power in the Middle East and with free nuclear weapons Iran would have no incentive to enrich uranium, a win/win/win program. Do you think I can win the Nobel Peace Prize for the program and peace in the Middle East?
1
Thank you President Trump. It is about time the Golan was recognized as it is an essential buffer zone for peace.
5
Netanyahu and Trump are cut from the same cloth. They are principled when it suits their popularity. They are most visible when scrambling to control the headlines. In this particular case they are both panicking to push their respective legal troubles below the fold.
This is not leadership, this is not statesmanship. It's toxic ego, nothing more.
2
Doesn't this also give a pass to what Putin when it comes to Russia's annexation of Crimea?
If you look at it this way, it probably explains why Trump is doing this.
Does anyone really think Trump is competent enough to think this one up by himself? Come on! This was not Trump's idea.
5
It is true that International Law bans keeping territory won in war. But IL is vague at best and silly at worst. That sentiment is correct when territory was won by an aggressor but makes no sense when won by the party attacked, especially when the attack was facilitated by the situation of the territory in question. What! Israel should return the high ground from where it was shelled to an enemy that has never agreed peace so it can have another try..
1
Ilhan Omar called it. And was criticized by her own party for it.
8
45 sez:"“I’ve been thinking about doing that for a long time,” Mr. Trump said to Fox Business Network in an interview scheduled to air on Friday. “Every president has said ‘do that,’” he said, “I’m the one that gets it done.”
OK. Which Presidents and when?
Specifically, what did they say and when did they say it?
Or is this just even more blather?
2
Sorry, my earlier comment was marred by a typo. What I meant to point out is that it is illegal under international law for any state to acquire territory by force, no matter the circumstances. This has been true since the Kellogg-Briand Pact of 1928 and it is even more established as international law now. The reason is obvious: if a state can't acquire territory in this way, it greatly reduces the incentive for war. Israel's occupation of Golan, as with its occupation of East Jerusalem, the West Bank and, yes, its continuing occupation of Gaza, is illegal. If the US does this, then it has no grounds on which to criticize Russia for annexing Crimea or any grounds on which to criticize any other state for using war to gain territory.
4
@Shaun Narine Israeli removed every single Israeli soldier and civilian from Gaza years ago. Every last one. And has been rewarded with unremitting hostility and war in return. You want peace? Tell Hamas to lay down their arms and renounce their claims to the land of Israel.
1
Regardless of the outcome and effect of this decision, I question the motivation behind it. I believe that Trump did it to help Netanyahu, and to further exacerbate the schism in the American Jewish community regarding Israel.
1
The Arabs attacked Israel, were pushed back and defeated and the Golan Heights were taken in that war. The UN has wanted Israel to give it up ever since. Too bad quite frankly. Have China give back Tibet while we’re at it. Its time to end the hypocrisy. Maybe such a declaration by the US is needed recognizing the Golan Heights as part of Israel to finally shake things up. There will be no 2 state solution. Palestinians are dreaming. I have no horse in this race but it just seems logical. Palestine is a lost country like so many others that will never appear on the world map again.
8
The 6-day war in 1967 was the first application of the Israeli 'preventive self defense' doctrine adding most of the designated Arab half of the former mandate area to Israel proper. It then continued to this day justifying each and every aggression against its neighbours ever since, be it Lebanon, Syria, or Iran.
Why Trump supports everything Israel does, when even Henry Kissinger (who is Jewish) didn't in 1973 (Yom Kippur war) is a mystery.
He can't love his son in law so much.
3
Donald Trump needs a war just as George W. Bush did to attempt to rally all of us to support him. He will rephrase it as "either you're for me or against me."
Trump must REALLY be worried about the Mueller report to distract everyone with this announcement.
5
We have the right to take your land if we decide it is in the interests of our nation’s security to do so.
We have the right to give away your land to other people as compensation if we do something to them that demands payment of some kind.
The mentally of colonizers is supposed to be dead.
7
Let’s get realistic ... Israel will never relinquish the Golan Heights - as it constitutes a strategic defensive barrier...
... and neither would any country facing the same threats...
... end of story...
6
I don't support any part of this.
4
Could this mean another war and occupation on the horizons?
1
Very interesting: in your complementary article "A Brief History of the Golan Heights, Claimed by Israel and Syria", you do not do justice to the word history.
With utmost respect, and especially to a prestigious papes as The New York Times is, please allow me to add the following 2 points:
1. the map does not depict its most important fixture that is geographic height. For a clear explanation, please watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xisj7pfH2gE
2. It was used as a shooting range by the Syrians against Israeli farmers below.
I can only imagine what would be happening there after all that happened and is still happening in the dismembered Syria of today.
4
Trump has no right to take Syria's land and give it to Israel. If Sheldon Adelson weren't such a big contributor, would Trump still do this? (Oh, sure, contributions have nothing to do with foreign policy.)
3
Judea and Samaria have belonged to the Jewish people for more than 5000 years. To this, there is no discussion.
1
The annexation of the Golan Height is essential to the existence of Israel. Israel has fought 3 wars under the guns of Syrians shooting down on Jewish settlements.To leave this in the hands of Assad is committing suicide.
5
Israel needs to return to its given borders or American taxpayers need to stop the $38 billion a year gift? tribute we pay Israel. Israel elects our Presidents by selecting two that will work for them and then manipulating us to select their favorite.
The Russiagate investigation should focus on Israel. They concieved and carried out the media storm with the help of Russian agents. Our media ignores this. Trump's first call to Russia was for approval for Israel's move to Jerusalem.
Our Military has endured "endless war" to accomplish Israel's goal of owning the Middle East. Move our troops to the West Bank and escort "our friends back inside their UN borders.
8
It is as it should be, and always was in the Good Book I.
Jared will reveal his far reaching Middle Peace Plan after the April elections, and it may include a solution for the Palestinians relocating to the Bekka Valley in Syria. By force if necessary, and USA support.
US foreign policy is not its own..
6
What role does Sheldon Adelson play in this decision?
11
Don't worry he will be gone soon.
No he doesn’t. Trump doesn’t care at all about the Golan Heights. He doesn’t even know where the Golan Heights are. What he wants is for the New York Times to run front page coverage of some nonsense he tweeted today to distract from the terrible reality of literally everything he’s actually done.
8
How do I grab the news cycle today asks Trump of himself daily. Lets find something everyone will think is wrong and just say it. Did we deserve to get this buffoon? Probably.
5
Points to the need to reduce the power of the Presidency. This is nuts.
5
Trump is dying to start a war, so he perceives this inane move as the perfect precipitator of an armed conflict between Israel and Syria. And because Bibi is in dire political and criminal straights, like Trump, the American feels that misery loves company. The rest of the world will pay the price. Sad.
5
Can anyone explain to me how the USA became the state that it is today???
10
@sym
Trump and the spineless republicans!
Sounds OK to me.
Plus Israel needs to tell West Bank Palestinians and the world that they can forget about an independent state on the West Bank. They had their chance. They didn't take it. That ship has sailed.
The West Bank needs to be incorporated into Israel-proper. West Bankers should get full Israeli citizenship and rights. Palestinians who lost land, money or businesses should get Just Compensation as under the legal Doctrine of Eminant Domain. No "right of return". They get cash instead. You want your land back, take your cash and buy it back if it's available.
West Bank Palestinians can get some autonomy as French Canadians do in Quebec. And that's it. Case closed. With the huge influx of Jews since 1948 the region alloted to Jews is too small to support a viable state for Jews much less two states.
The UN should declare Gaza an independent state whether Gaza wants it or not. Israel vacated Gaza years ago. Egypt doesn't want Gaza back. Independence is the only viable outcome.
There's your Palestinian State. Gaza!
6
This makes sense. Time to finally tie up some loose ends. What have decades of diplomacy achieved? "peace and stability", lols. The barrel of a gun has kept the peace. As for Crimea, forget about it, done and dusted. Nothing the rest of the planet UN+++ can do which will change that. Gotta roll with reality not continue some lame pixie dust fantasy narrative. Shocking to me how many NYT readers are supporting Russia backed Syria, and yet try to smear DT as some Putin hugging crony - quite the paradox. Is Putin/Russia his "pal" or is Netanyahu/Israel? choice seems clear to me.
2
Why not this is how the USA became USA by occupying and winning wars
3
Great idea. Might as well recognise Russian annexation of Crimea while you’re at it.
4
And Chinese sovereignty over what used to be called the “West Philippine Sea.”
No wonder Kim Jong-in has worked so hard to out-maneuver Trump about North Korea’s nuclear weapons!
1
As a tax paying American citizen I oppose this giveaway to Netanyahu —and I stand now with the members of Congress who are critical of Israel under their hard line, right wing leader. I know America is the largest donor of foreign aid to Israel —and as a tax payer I object. I oppose the US stand of supporting Israel no matter what they do. Without question or criticism.
I want my representatives to question what Israel is doing with my tax money. And I want them to withhold financial support when they do things like build settlements on Palestinian land.
I’m sure I will be called anti-Semitic —that’s Israel’s go to line to prevent anyone from looking closely at their policies.
I don’t care anymore. Coming from a jewish family, I know in my heart I’m not anti -Semitic. I refuse to go along with what the current state of Israel is doing silently.
And all these Congress people falling all over themselves right now to “stand with Israel” rather than point to the very real facts on the ground that they are behaving abhorently—are enablers.
I demand that my representatives apply standards and rules to our continued aid—
The argument that “ Israel is the only Democracy in the Middle East” isn’t even true. Israel is not a democracy.
I pray Netanyahu is defeated.
15
@Jenniferlila
Yes, why does their horrendous treatment of Palestinians go completely unmentioned in most articles? They kill Palestinians all the time and periodically in great numbers all at once.
2
Although I support the move and a safe and secure Israel (anyone who ever visited and seen the strategic nature of the Golan knows why) this smells horribly of trump helping Netanyahu. It has been long standing US policy to not get involved in Israeli elections. That is why more than once Netanyahu was not invited to the WH while attending AiPAC when an Israeli election is weeks away. This year trump is 1) allowing his image to be shown on campaign material, implying an endorsement, 2) Mike Pompeo's visit this week provided ample photo ops Bibi is using as political material and clear endorsements, 3) this out of nowhere move, which Netanyahu can boast about and 4) two scheduled visits to the WH next week while Bibi is in DC at AIPAC. Worse, trump has not extended an invitation to Gen. (res) Gantz of the Blue and White Party, which is a legitimate contender, while he should. As an American, Jew, and Israel supporter, trump should stay out of this. And once again, a shoot from the hip decision without any domestic or international support. No Mr. trump and the GOP, you do not onr will ever have my vote.
6
Bravo President Trump for having the guts, once again, to state the obvious and refuse to grovel at the feet of the liberals, our MSM and chicken-hearted US government.
As for anyone who wants to bleat about how terrible this is and how does it make Syria feel; seriously? Syria is a violent and failed state which is ruled by a despotic leader that gasses its own citizens. Other parts of Syria have been overrun by ISIS and its ilk. It chose to attack Israel back in 1967. Prior to that it used the Golan as a perch from which to rain gunfire and missiles down on Israeli's.
For all of those too busy parroting the liberal meme and MSM here to ever spend time in Israel and specifically in the Golan, why don't you consider what that would be like if it were the US? If farmers had to work their fields under constant threat of being attacked from above? If towns and villages could come under fire from above at any time?
Well done. And really, I don't care what Arab countries have to say about this. If they are concerned about Syria they can step in and rescue all of the millions of Syrian refugees that have had to flee the war there. Or shelter and feed all of the millions who lack proper shelter and food. They only decide to "care" about Syria if it involves a way to demonize Israel.
7
@Greenie
Wait, I thought ISIS was vanquished and driven from Syria? Trump said so. Or were they completely defeated? Or mostly defeated next week five weeks ago? Anyhoo. Details, details...
You need to do some research on what US-forced, demonizing, one-sided, absolutist arguments contribute to international relations. Spoiler alert: they don't go well.
Other than that, and the fallacy of reducing entire populations of people to pawns, let's see... well, you're spot-on with punctuation, anyway.
3
Boycott, divestment and sanctions until Israel complies with UN security council resolutions and the Fourth Geneva convention.
8
This does two things for Trump:
First, by sticking his fingers in Arabs' eyes, he distracts his base from the fact that he just stuck his fingers in the eyes of one of their heroes, John McCain.
Second, he throws a treat to his evangelical base by expanding their holy land. Some Jews who find Trump otherwise distasteful may find him less so. A bonus.
I suspect the Saudi's don't mind much. Golan is 1,000 miles from Riyadh, and fomenting tensions between Israel and her Arab neighbors usually worked well for the House of Saud. Jarad will continue his charade with them. All participants profit.
6
I deplore this blatant attempt to re-elect a criminal and right wing extremist as head of Israel. I have walked the Golan Heights (while under Israeli control) and understand its importance to protecting Israel, but it doesn't need to be sovereign territory.
2
Trump continues to receive the condemnation of the world and bringing disrepute upon our nation. This is but one more example of his trashing our history of peace keeping in the region. His undertaking such a rabid approach to the problem that Israel's existence has created in the region offers no gain to our nation, no value to the region, and only further complicates the solution. He is doing to them what he is also doing here at home. Dividing our nation. Dividing. Dividing. Dividing.
5
Why is the loser of the popular vote in a democracy ordering around the rest of the world via tweets? And why are all media acting as echoing amplifiers?
Deplorable x 4.
What nightmare am I in?
11
@joymars
There are days when I might need to be convinced that I did not actually die in early Nov 2016 and this is - at best - purgatory.
2
Some education for some commentators, whether they want to accept it or not:
Myth: Israel found a defensive war in 1967
Fact: Israel launched a surprise attack and invaded its neighbors in 1967. None of them were planning any hostile action, as archival records today prove.
You can tell Israel's true motivation by its actions postwar. The US did not seize large parts of Japan after it fought a true defensive war.
15
@Mary Hey Mary, honey, if the UK were to blockade the English Channel and not permit French ships passage, do you think that would constitute an act of war? What do you call it when Egypt orders all the UN peacekeepers to leave The Sinai and then closes the Straights of Tiran (which are international waters) to Israeli ships, thereby cutting off Israel's access to the Red Sea, all the while proclaiming that Egypt cannot coexist with Israel? Or do you think that Israel should have just turned the other cheek and waited for Nasser to get all his ducks lined up for an attack? Why would any country capable of defending itself do that?
@Mary
With no US involvement or support, right?
Just plain and simple election interference. Trump wants to help Bibi get re-elected, and will say just about anything to do this. Bosom buddies in politics, corruption, and possibly eventually in prison.
16
Trump wants to help Bibi win his election AND he wants to help himself win his election in 2020...The downside is the U.S. can no longer be regarded as an honest broker in Palestine-Israel peace talks.
1
“Peace Borker” and the “United States of America” are words that will never be used in the same sentence ever again. Welcome to the Trump world order.
8
It should not be US policy to incite wars among other countries. Even if that is not the direct intent of this policy, it would be a likely result. I also wonder how, in his ongoing efforts to please Israel, Trump failed to check with his buddies in Saudi Arabia about this one. Even though Syria is presently too weakened by its ongoing Civil War to respond immediately to such a provocation, that does not mean that the long term result in the area would not prevent the neighboring countries from preparing another war.
Perhaps in Trump's view if it is OK for Russia to annex Crimea and other parts of Ukraine, then it is OK for the Israelis to annex part of Syria.
10
Why Is Annexation OK for Israel and Not Russia?
The move of our embassy to Jerusalem made it pretty evident we had ceased interest in feigning neutrality in an Israeli-Palestinian settlement. Now we are going to play the global hypocrite by endorsing Israel’s annexation of the Golan Heights while sanctioning Russia for it’s land grab of Crimea.
I expect most in our Congress4Hire will try to be too busy with other issues to speak up; however, people across the globe will think less of our nation for this hypocrisy.
15
The caption above the title in the homepage says "disputed territories". This is, at best, inexact. The Golan is not "disputed", it's been illegally annexed. Calling it disputed is like saying that a snatched purse is "disputed" between the thief and its victim. The situation is clear, what is the purpose of using deceptive terms to describe it?
11
First, Israel got peace with Egypt by returning Sinai. This will not lead to peace. This is election-time chest thumping that will stir up a hornet’s nest. Second, if Trump had kept his mouth shut, wouldn’t IDF be in Golan tomorrow anyway? So don’t pretend this benefits Israel’s actual security. This is pandering and electioneering. Don’t pretend it’s anything better than that. And if it enrages Hamas or Hezbollah into attacking, I’m sure Netanyahu will love a bit of bloodshed to distract his country from his corruption case.
7
I am no fan of Netanyahu, but Israel should retain the Golan Heights to protect itself. Syria was the 1967 aggressor, no?
7
Perhaps he should learn to handle the trailing wheels of not being a conflict-maker on a domestic level before pursuing the mantle of international peacemaker.
3
The Golan Heights, Gaza, and the West Bank are all the spoils of war...territories that a unexpectedly pugnacious Israel won from the aggressors Syria, Egypt, and Jordan, respectively. These Arab nations lost these lands over 50 years ago...and, like the aftermath of other blood soaked lands of military conflict throughout the history of mankind, borders change and maps are redrawn.
Palestinians, are accurately defined as disenfranchised Syrians, Egyptians, and Jordanians who've had a lifetime to either became Israeli citizens, or return to their country's of origin. The real problem is that their countries of origin don't want them back, and now Israel can't afford to absorb more Arab-Muslims, because it would be the de facto end of the dream of a safe haven majority Jewish Homeland.
The Golan Heights and sections of the West Bank are now vital to Israel's national security. They're not going to give this acreage back. So, get it over it!
10
This is American interference in a foreign governments election process, the Israeli elections are April 9, 2019, Netanyahu is down in the polls. The only reason for trump to announce this now.
7
The status quo was better as Israel already controlled the Heights to protect its security from Hezbollah and Iran. Now the arabs have more hatred of Israel. The Druze in Golan see that being part of Syria is not a safe option for their families and future for the next 100 years so the reality is they become more Israeli even year, whether official or unofficial. But why make it official?
'“Under any conceivable circumstance, Israel could not give up the Golan,” said Jason D. Greenblatt, Mr. Trump’s envoy for Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. “To do so would endanger Israel’s very existence. What President Trump did today was to recognize this.”'
110% right!
But Kim Jung Un will certainly give up his nuclear weapons because Trump has fallen in love with him! Absolutely.
2
What must the peace-inclined among the Arabs, who have said that one day diplomacy and growing trust will restore internationally agreed borders, think now? Apparently to help out a buddy in an election, the White House is ready not only to discourage but also to humiliate the peace-inclined.
3
There never was or ever will be a two-state solution, thanks to our interference. One only need to look at the facts on the ground (settlements in occupied West Bank now vs decades ago). Now, our President unilaterally hands over Syrian land to Netenyahu. Why so biased in that region? Will anyone be surprised if Trump gets a tower in Israel? Is there some truth to Rep. Ilhan Omar's tweet?
5
Hey Jared, there goes your peace plan bud. Thank your father in law for putting a stake in its heart.
5
This was the so-called “peace” plan - the timing had to be managed to take place shortly before Bibi’s election.
1
Trump announced that he is now in favor of Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights.
Today's announcement by Trump was geared to affect the Israeli election coming in two weeks. This will surely help Netanyahu in that election.
Our president just told a group of reporters that his announcement today had nothing to do with Israeli elections.
It's downright discouraging to have our president continue to provide the American people information that is not true.
The first disappointment hit as we were receiving the results of our last presidential election 11/8/16. It is still hard to believe after all of Trump's dirty tricks starting with his birther
stories which began even before the election started and Trump's behavior throughout the election process.
Trump WON ! (after all of that stuff.)
Even with our faulty Electoral College system we should not have ended up with Trump as our president.
We had an election in the United States of America and with all of our freedoms and our beloved constitution , we chose Donald J. Trump to be our president.
As a result of that election, Benjamin Netanyahu will probably be reelected as Prime minister of Israel in a couple of weeks from now.
My heart says that we deserve better but my head isn't so sure of just what we ---"deserve".
M.W. Endres
3
Captured another news cycle by saying something outlandish and controversial has he...
2
Trump's actions suggest that the remarks--heretofore controversial--of Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar may have a certain element of truth.
7
This move is aimed solely at bucking up Netanyahu in the coming election.
Please do not equate the move with American support for Israel. It is nothing more than a sop to the Israeli PM and to Trump's evangelical base.
It is a senseless provocation in a region that doesn't need it and it opens up a global can of worms that we may have great trouble closing.
3
Eureopean countries are distancing themselves from this - immediately.
I could like Trump is his foreign policy wasn't rechless, amateurish and dangerous.
2
One more example of the damage that DT is doing to the world. But to raise the question of "who got to him?" and prodded him to make this decision is not possible in America, above all during the week in which AIPAC is meeting. Mearsheimer and Walt learned that lesson for the rest of us.
3
Simply and directly, this is all about endless greed and desire.
3
Having stood on the Golan Heights and viewed the area, it would be insanity to permit the Syrians to reoccupy it.
7
If the Trump hadn’t done this, wouldn’t IDF troops still be there the next day? This farce has absolutely nothing to do with Israeli security or American interests. It is pure pandering and electioneering. It’s a quid pro quo between Netanyahu and Trump.
Ilhan Omar was right. Foreign countries buy allegiance in this country. You can shout me down with any insults you want, but Exhibit A is Donald Trump, a man who sells himself to Putin, Chinese state-backed tech companies, and now Netanyahu.
7
Most people in the world, think "Israel" as a home for an historically persecuted people should exist.
Most people in the world, think countries should have borders: borders that are recognised internationally and can be identified in maps. Israel is not one of those countries, and until it is, will struggle to gain legitimacy.
To recognise the annexation of territory gained by an act of war, is a big step in international law: it resets the rules and allows others, like Putin, to assert territorial rights they should not have.
What next? Will the USA recognise Israel's annexation of the West Bank? What of the people who actually live there? Will they have citizenship of this "Greater" Israel?
2
The “Eretz Yisrael” (Greater Israel) plan becomes a reality? Is Shebaa Farms part of the irredentist manifesto? The hydrology component of these areas alone justifies annexation. Simply acknowledging the obvious, regardless of U.N. resolutions.
All the predictions of disaster, of derailment of the peace talks - oh wait, those were the predictions when the US recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. The timing was all wrong, that too. Well, it turns out that Trump’s sense of that moment was perfect as none of that came into being. And now - the truth is, just about everyone - including all the Arab states - has ceded the Golan to Israel. This too, will turn out to be a non-event. And there is another reason: the world is sick and tired of the Palestinians crying about their status and the ongoing situation there. It’s high time they came to the table and both sides brought this to an end. Enough is enough.
4
Seems like the kind of move that will ensure enmity that will last forever with no hope of ever making a real peace. I wonder if anybody in Israel understands that or cares. For the U.S. to be supporting a thug like Netanyahu goes well beyond their typical level of hypocrisy concerning a peace settlement there. Everything Trump does, however, is with an eye towards getting re-elected as he knows this will have broad support in the U.S. In other words, it has nothing to do with what is right and sensible.
3
Not one word about the oil/gas under the Golan. Not one word about Genie Energy already granted exploratory contracts. Not one word about who sits on the board of Genie Energy: Cheney, Murdoch, Summers, Woolsey, Richardson, Rothschild . No word that Likud big shot is also part owner. And no word that the deposit lies directly above the largest aquifer in the region which now faces the threat of contamination.
9
Having quiet night listening to America, the Tin Man.
The top Marine general issued a warning Thursday saying information on the public record concerning combat readiness has been hurt, in part by troop deployment at the southern border, as well as two recent hurricanes.
Viet Nam is the sound track of my youth.
I remember older lads engaged in the war.
Gen. Robert Neller USMC is a US citizen worth hearing.
Cowardice of the draft is an accusation I make of Trump.
US choppers saved Australian grunts.
Australian grunts survived Nam and vote.
I taught a lad who raised that his dad was a helicopter machine gunner who did his job and had medals to show to my history class.
General Neller USMC provides leadership and observations with circumspection apt for his office.
His views are not new.
Mr Trump would have read that as reported ending planned exercises with South Korea with allies mentioned on his daily briefing does cause issues.
Mr Trump cannot make decisions.
Impulsive edicts re the Golan Heights have military consequences while CIC defends the Mexican Border.
Listening to America circa 1974 Ventura Highway.
Trump has no memory of seventies America.
How could any one malign the torture of Senator McCain?.
Mr Trump has marginalised voters who are young enough to remember Nixon.
1
I wonder why Syria gets any credibility after the way the Syrian government has treated its people for the last seven or eight years of civil war. Maybe this is a way to put some pressure on Syria and, indirectly, stand up to Russia.
2
Trump is like a deranged arsonist, if there is a fire, he'll try to pour in some gasoline just to see what will happen.
This is a starter for another war, especially if the Israelis will tell the world that there are any Iranian elements in the region now they have to fight.
And finally, the big, probably nuclear, fire will burn in Tehran, started by Trump and Netanyahu.
On the other hand, the US will also have to accept that Crimea is now Russia as the Golan Heights issue will then have to serve as a precedent that will allow Russia to argue that now that they have control over Crimea, it is the same thing.
Which means that the US will have to end all Crimea related sanctions against Russian and that should be a big issue for Trump as well.
To help his buddy Putin.
Is this Trump guy for real or are they just filming an scene of a remake of the "One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest" movie?
2
Behold, Trump the Peacemaker of Palestine. Sure, annexation is illegal by international law, and any instance mires the whole world in chaos -- but those who wield missiles make the laws. When one side is totally silenced, then we can finally have peace.
2
The Middle East is not already roiled? Someone has been on a long vacation and not reading about world events.
1
Israel did not "seize" the Golan in 1967. Syria lost it in a failed invasion of Israel. I do not support the subsequent annexation. However using the word seize sends a wrong message to those who look for every opportunity to villify Israel. In contrast, just today BBC News chose to use the word "captured". Better but still fails to clarify that it was Syria who initiated the conflict.
7
It is amazing at the number of comments justifying an illegal occupation, or should I call it an undocumented residence. There is no rule of law anymore, (or it never was)the end justifies the means. There are options to maintain Israel security through neutral third party army that Israel trusts etc. You cannot tell me that there is no other way to ensure that there is no bombing from Golan heights. If someone shoots a missile from Saudi Arabia at Israel, then can Israel seize the oil as it has the military might to do so. If you want to steal the land, water etc. etc. you can come up with any number of justifications. Nothing will change, at least people used to pretend to be decent citizens of the world.
3
What is remarkable about the coverage of this is Issue is the failure to mention that Syria lost the Golan in an attempt to invade and destroy Israel and have never renounced that intention.
8
The argument against recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights appears to be 1) it doesn't matter because Israel isn't leaving anyway, 2) the 1967 war was "illegal" as if there's some court to adjudicate this, and 3) there will be bloodshed.
It does matter of course. There has to be consequences for turning down offers to negotiate and return land. If there are no consequences for spurning Barak's offer in 2000 to return nearly all the Golan Heights than why would anyone negotiate in good faith in the future? This applies to the Camp David offer Arafat turned down too. If the Palestinians get the same offer again what did all those people die for?
Syria attacked Israel in 1967. Israel attacked Egypt but only after Egypt committed a causus belli by closing the straits of Tiran which is an international waterway. The UN Representative reported Egypt was on the verge of attacking so what choice did Israel have?
But it's the third argument which is the most odious. Can our foreign policy really be governed by threats of violence? Are our national interests determined by bullies and terrorists threatening us? Perhaps you disagree that it's in our national interest, then run for president. But if this is the determination of our President then do it.
In the end this changes little, but it changes everything. It means spurning negotiations have a price, and Syria due to its reprehensible behavior has lost the right to be heard.
Godspeed Donald.
3
This is something we all knew would happen, because most of us (countries) have done it too.
Rule number one: If you choose war, you better win or you could lose big because no victor ever reeled time backwards to that day you could’ve lost less.
3
Here we go again. I was born and raised in a town in the Golan. I am a man of peace. Trump's recognizing the annexation will cause nothing but tension everywhere beyond Israel and could, eventually, lead to another huge war. I disagree ferociously with Netanyahu. No, please could we leave the status as it is now and focus on reducing nationalism and animosity? We have more than enough land mines lurking from decades ago up here.
171
@Yitzhak I don't know, isn't that ready to say from this side of the ocean? After decades of getting nowhere, perhaps something bold is the only thing that will move things forward.
5
@Yitzhak Do you ever spare a thought for the more than 100.000 Syrians who lived there in 1967, who were expelled and whose villages Israel bulldozered (more than 200). That would explain some of the animosity.
2
@Yitzhak Recognizig the obvious does not “cause violence.” What you want is for Israel to leave. Never gonna happen. Your people threatened Israel, you lost, territory is forfeit. So sad you can’t come to terms with your mistakes.
5
This is Trump doing the right thing for the wrong reason and in the wrong way.
Why is it the right thing?
After WWI, the League of Nations broke up the Ottoman Empire awarding Syria to the French and Palestine to Britain, but mandating that it create a Jewish homeland in Palestine. So the French gave Syria to the Arabs, and the British gave two-thirds of Palestine to the Hashemite kingdom and created Jordan. It intended to give the rest to the Jews but the Arabs protested (violently) so it walked away from its “mandate” and left it to the the UN to partition.
Of course the Arabs rejected any partition and went to war against Israel intending to destroy it - in 1948, 67 and 73, each time losing losing land. (Jordan occupied the West Bank 1948-1967 but no one thought to demand it create a state for Palestinians.)
And since, the “world” has decided that “international law” requires Israel give it back. I assume that means the Geneva Convention. Indeed Israel gave back the Sinai to Egypt in a deal Carter brokered between Sadat and Begin.
Would that happen with the Golan? Certainly it’s been tried. But with the rogue murderous regime in Syria and Iran running a terrorist organization in Lebanon (Hezbollah) no one has seriously contended that Israel should relinquish it.
Israel still can and might give all or part of it up in a genuine peace deal with a responsible Syrian government. But that will be up to Israel alone.
I applaud Trump for standing up for Israel.
5
Slow down everybody. This declaration is pandering to the red state evangelical base which reveres Jerusalem and fears Arabs. The land is controlled by Israel already. For better or worse, that is not at stake or changing. Trump is not the UN , nor an international arbiter. His opinion of “should” carries as much weight around the world as those who hear it care to give it. In other words, European and Middle Eastern and African, Asian and South American nations will pay it no heed.
2
With the pace of current events, we should be very afraid. The authoritarians of the world are starting to band together.
Linguistic pun intended.
2
You know, because Syria is really capable of governing more territory right now. Israel has turned the Golan Heights into a first-world country. Its residents would be horrified if they became part of Syria. Not to mention that Ziv Medical Center in the Golan is treating thousands of Syrian refugees. Maybe the UN should focus on the country that is killing their own people by the tens of thousands and not the one country in the region that is a bastion of stability.
5
Where is Congress in this? When did the U.S. appoint Netanyahu as our Secretary of State? Why do we need the two foreign policy sycophants? Pompeo and Bolton?
These and more questions that need to be raised show just how reckless Trump is. He is acting more like Putin every day. Is that what his base voted for?
1
The Middle East countries were rather arbitrarily divided by European countries. Even if so, not an inch additional soil can be justified by occupation after wars. It has been and will be a source of disputes and further wars. It is a violation of international law. Trump has no authority to speak out his wish on international matters other than Great America. Israel can continue to occupy the soil by force, which will never be justified for whatever reason or faith. Power based on force will collapse by force.
5
"could undermine Mr. Trump’s long anticipated peace proposal for Israel and the Palestinians"
That is like worry that something have might undermined Nixon's "secret peace plan" for Vietnam.
There is nothing to undermine. It is all smoke for the sake of show, to fool the crowd that wants to be fooled.
Israel did talk about the return of the Golan to Syria, when they most recently had peace talks with Syria. They came close, just separated by an Israeli attempt to keep control of the water from Golan. The outside powers stirred up and kept going the Syrian Civil War, so that with Syria destroyed, Israel had no more need to talk.
If anyone was serious, they could do that again. They are just not serious.
4
As another has said, everyone knows that this decision came about with little consideration for the consequences. Another brainchild of Jared Kushner, He Who is Czar for Peace in the Middle East, and President Trump.
But, to be fair, the Golan Heights should belong to Israel. They are a highly strategic position along the border with Syria. They were seized in a defensive war.
It may be 2000 years more before Syria warms towards Israel, and the Israelis should hold the Heights for all of those years and more. Israel is in a highly defensible position along the Heights; why should they risk Israeli lives to make Syria feel better? At least Syria knows that Israel won't march down from the Heights to attempt to wipe Syria from the map entirely. Israel can't say the same.
4
Considering the history of the region and the attacks upon Israel from Syrians on the Golan Heights(in the past) it is OK if U.S.A. now supports Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights area.
But there remains a problem. Our recognition came a few weeks too early. We should have announced our decision AFTER the Israeli elections because the world will think that we are announcing this support for israel now in order to affect the upcoming election to favor Netanyahu.
Trump just told a group of reporters that his announcement today had nothing to do with
2
Critical to Israel defense? Yes.
Intractable problem? Yes.
Taking it by force of arms in 67 and then cramming down a solution agreeable to just one side? Yes.
While might makes right here, this solution will only engender a furious and constant blowback of terrorism, so if the point is to safeguard Israel, it is a pure fail.
Consider diplomacy when war, politics, and continual failure is the only result of our policies.
3
Taking it by force of arms? You fail to note that Israel was defending herself against an invading Syrian army whose intent was genocide, and who has never renounced that intent.
3
Given the unlikelihood of securing a peace between Israel and Palestine - both sides capable of recalcitrance and walking away - just ask Bill Clinton – it is logical to affirm the facts on the ground – both Jerusalem (at least, West) and the Golan Heights. The unbearable Mr. Trump did the right thing – and given the combination of some degree of rapprochement between Arab world and Israel and the continued saber rattling of Iran - the self defense of that tiny nation would seem imperative.
2
I thought Jared was going to make peace in the Middle East between Israel and it's neighbors.
Trump suggesting the United States should recognize Israel's authority over the Golan Heights damages any hope of negotiating peace. This move is almost as bad as moving the US embassy to Jerusalem.
Trump's pronouncements, likely without any prior conversations with the Department of State, show he has no diplomatic sensibilities. Trump has publicly favored dictators like Putin and Kim Jong-Un with this action being his outreach to the right-wing autocratic Netanyahu.
Sadly this is merely another example of Trump's inability to be a uniter of people and act presidential. He prefers to foment chaos at everyone else's expense. Often to distract from his domestic problems (e.g. - the Mueller investigation/report).
3
If we survive our own tendency to destroy ourselves, the whole idea of owning pieces of the earth will become obsolete. And pave the way to more innovative paths to destruction.
1
Trump boasts, “Every president has said ‘do that.’ I’m the one that gets it done.” But, as in this case, the things he’s been able to “get done” so far are things that don’t involve any doing; only saying. His lack of political skill is second only to his lack of appetite for work.
1
The NY Times says Trump is "jettisoning decades of American policy in the Middle East" as if that is bad thing. Quite to the contrary, I think.
Five decades of American policy have produced exactly nothing. There never was a peace process and the Arabs never wanted a two-state solution. Both these things are purely fantasies of Western politicians and pundits.
But, worse than mere fantasies, these policies signaled to the Arab side that they could win, if only they delayed long enough, that time is on their side. And, for five decades, delay is exactly what they have done.
As with the American embassy move to Jerusalem, recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights is a signal to the Arabs that delay will cost them and they had better get on with making peace. That, more than the five decades of incoherent "policy", will finally make peace happen between Israel and her Arab neighbors.
Donald Trump is either a master of geo-politics, or he is making this move now, for crass, partisan political motives. I don't care which it is. I don't care if he is making the right move for the right reasons, or he is making the right move for the wrong reasons. I care only that he is making the right move.
Recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights is the right move.
3
Excellent move, carefully calculated. Totally legitimizes a Syria-Iran mutual defense pact permitting the movement of Iranian air and ground forces into Syria to bolster its forces. Iran no longer has to contend with the challenges of developing long-range missile systems nor nuclear weapons. Short-range missiles loaded with biological or chemical weapons will be able to reach key Israeli targets in minutes. Cruise missiles carrying highly-radioactive dust can paint every settlement in the Golan Heights. If Israeli voters think about the implications of many thousands of Iranian troops within striking distance of Israeli civilian populations they undoubtedly will thank both the Israeli and American leaders for increasing their vulnerability to devastation.
2
Trump will defy international law, the UN, common sense and legality, as long as those concepts stand in the way of Israeli objectives. Might makes Right is the new International Law being codified by Trump and both his supporters and detractors in Congress. On certain issues, Trump will face no official opposition. Congress will overwhelmingly endorse Trump's declaration that Israel should own that piece of Syrian territory. The Golan Heights should have been part of any peace treaty negotiations between Syria and Israel, but from Trump's and Israel's viewpoint, there is nothing to negotiate there, "it's Israeli territory already". That seems to be the bottom line.
14
@Susan S. Rehwaldt. One difference is that Mexican snipers did not regularly shoot at American farmers at work, as Syrian snipers did. Otherwise the Golan is territory lost by Syria in the Six Day War, and both Texas and California were territory lost by Mexico in the Mexican - American War. Similar, indeed. Losing territory in war is the way of the world, from earliest times.
15
The deal maker strikes again: here’s a fantastic gift—no we don’t need anything in return. Thanks anyway.
The guy is incapable of negotiating a good deal. I don’t oppose what he did, just how he did it. Art of the Flop.
11
Why is there no mention of water in this discussion? It's my understanding that this has a lot to do with the interest by both sides in the Golan Heights? Am I mistaken?
10
Wow - the person with no international diplomatic experience is making decisions that will impact US policies for decades to come.
This will become another rallying cry for all those in the middle east that hate the US.
What's the payback for the US? What is the point? Why would Trump do this? The consequences will only be know in years to come.
10
Trump is living in a false reality. Unfortunately land ownership is not determined by the US. Look for lawsuits and the UN to get involved.
7
Jesus Christ, that guy doesn't think, does he? Why would he get us deeper involved in something that, I would think, does not involve us, and that most of us could care less about? I really don't give a hoot about what goes on there, and most of the people I've spoken to seem to agree. except of course, those hard core Republicans that follows and agrees with every word Trump says ( I know a couple of those guys). Why, Why, Why?
8
Even though the SOP of most of the world (and especially in the ME) is that might makes right, it shouldn't be. Sure, Israel is threatened when GH is used as a staging ground and needs a reliable partner to ensure it won't be, but at the same time, holding on to it through the strength of its power works only as long as it is stronger. Who's to say another day a while from now someone stronger won't take it away?
10
@RamS:
More to the point, Israel’s holding onto its *existence* – not just Golan – has been mainly through “the strength of its power”. Unless there are enormous transformations in the attitudes of surrounding Muslim nations, Israel will remain viable “only as long as it is stronger”.
7
@Michael N. Alexander I agree, however my point was largely about your "unless" clause and a way to think about what ME peace would truly look like, and if it were even possible. Because the other option, "as long as it is stronger" is a gamble which right now looks good but in a century or two or three? Or even earlier if some of these surrounding hostile nations got hold a nuclear weapon or two. IMO, the "might makes right" attitude is what needs to change, not in Israel per se but throughout the ME.
Israel did make peace with Egypt and Jordan. It seems it is now friendly with SA for strategic reasons - perhaps recognition is on the way (if Trump's people achieve this, he can really take a victory lap, eh?). Nonetheless, attitudes can change and have in the past.
There are countries in this world that you can't go to with an Israeli passport. There are countries that won't let you enter if you have an Israeli visa or stamp in your passport. That's a sad state of affairs IMO.
This is another poke in the eye to the Syrians. It's not going to make a peace treaty with them any easier but it does recognize the status quo post bellum and to allow the Syrians to reoccupy the Golan Heights places Israel in an untenable position.
18
Your point is fair. US is not at war with Syria, so a peace treaty is not a future event. However, the whole matter of what to do with ISIS remnants - ie Foreigners now in limbo is made more strained.
4
Trump supported the operations of a military tank manufacturer yesterday. Good thing. The US may need tanks tomorrow.
Coincidence or plan?
15
@J. Allison Rose
Where would we need tanks? Are we going to "sell" them to Israel or Saudi Arabia? This looks like Trump's theft of money from FEMA to build his ridiculous Wall. It certainly keeps our defense manufacturing industries in business. In the meantime, Trump is thinking about reducing Medicare? Certainly nothing going for infrastructure maintenance, or for research in renewable energy. Of course, we might manufacture tanks the way Boeing manufactures planes, no safety "extras".
5
The military did not want those tanks - they are outdated.
1
the US cannot be trusted in any dispute going forward, religion, race and political expediency to friends are all that matters, not doing the right thing. Another Russia on the world stage carving up the world for economic benefit.
27
Trump would side with Russia as it concerns Crimea and perhaps China as it concerns Taiwan.
1
What is the difference between the United States recognizing Israel's authority over the Golan Heights and the United States recognizing Mexico's claim to Texas or New Mexico or Arizona or California?
22
@Susan S. Rehwaldt
One difference is that the Syrians lost the Golan after attacking Israel in a way that posed a far greater threat to Israel than Mexico ever posed to the US. Israel held onto the Golan and never advanced further because it wanted defensible, natural borders. Mexico eventually made peace with the US, while Syria never made peace with Israel.
2
The Mexicans don’t own Texas. Comment is completely out of context. I have been to the Golan Heights it is critical for Iraqi security. There is not much there but the high ground.
Actually the examples are the exact opposite. In the case of Texas and California the U. S. was in the role of Israel and took the territory away from Mexico (Syria). And you see, nobody is complaining today. In a few years nobody will complain about Crimea which Russia wants for the same reason that Isreal wants the Golan Heights.
Excuse me but where was international law when Syria was gassing to death its own people? Golan Heights is dirt and worthless when compared to human life and losing it is a very small price to what has happened otherwise.
41
@Mac Zon
One might have hoped that Israel would demonstrate a higher morality than Syria and Assad, but apparently not. In his desperate quest to escape prosecution and gain re-election, Netanyahu (and his enabler Trump) have thrown themselves right down there in the gutter with al-Assad.
12
@Lifelong Democrat There is not an Israeli Zionist in the State of Israel who would return the Golan to Syria and Assad. Not Netanyahu, not Gantz, not Lapid, not Gabbay and Meretz would disappear tomorrow is that were their policy. Gutter? Look at a map.
2
Why now? Why through Twitter? In Trump’s tiny hands, tweeting is equivalent to drunk dialing. Will his tweet about the Golan Heights result in an actual shift in US policy? Is Trump just drunk dialing again to get attention, to crank up his base, to rile his critics, to change the subject, or to pretend like he is actually doing something constructive?
45
Trump couldn't find Israel on the map or the Golan Heights. Who's putting these words in his mouth?
First things first. Anyone who knows anything about military matters realizes whoever controls the high ground usually wins. Now having stated the obvious; Israel is not going to give up the Golan Heights ever; or at least until Syria signs an airtight/ iron clad guarantee that 1973 will never be repeated and Israel will finally be recognized as a legitimate nation; something no Arab government except Sadat of Egypt has ever done. We know what happened after that. So this is simply a grandstand play by Trump to throw his soul mate Netanyahu a bone as he tries to save his political hide in an election most expect he will lose. Cynical politics at it`s worst; but hey we are talking Donald Trump here.
36
@Greg Hodges "until Syria signs an airtight/ iron clad guarantee that 1973"
Sigh. But you do realize that 1973 (Yom Kippur War) was an attempt to grab back what Israel took in 1967, in its 'pre-emptive' war against Egypt?
1973, whatever you may think of the merits of the Arabs, was an attempt to take back their own territory, being held and colonized (illegally, by most reckonings) by Israel.
1
@Greg Hodges I appreciate your comment, but one other Arab leader has officially recognized Israel and signed a peace treaty with Israel: the late King Hussein of Jordan, a man I much admired-with the late Yitzchak Rabin, the much lamented late PM of Israel.
@Alfred :Well there is some revisionist history at it`s. worst.Both 1967 and 1973 were designed to "drive the Jews into the sea." I do not in any way support the illegal and immoral land grabs that are going on under Netanyahu; but please stop trying to make the Arabs as the poor victims of Israeli aggression in those 2 wars. It was a case of Israel`s survival in both cases; and the world knows it.
1
Am I am the only one to see the personal preference of Trump here. His daughter married to a Jewish man both of them are advisers on his staff no conflict of interest there of course. The conflict goes back thousands of years in the Middle East will probably never be solved but other nations should remain neutral to at least try and work towards a peaceful solution. Taking sides will lead to other countries taking sides and God (whoever you see as your God) another
big war the world does need.
29
This opinion invites no risk and has not geopolitical effect. By wagging his tongue with this toothless viewpoint, Trump gets his Christian and Jewish bona fides built. I.e. in twelve months he can point to Golan Heights and Jerusalem as evidence of his pro-Semitic, pro-Christian and anti-Muslim credentials.
11
Actually this conflict only goes back about 100 years when zionist immigation to palestine (then british - taken from the ottomans after ww1) increased dramatically. And totally escalated after israel was declared a state in 1948.
We must understand Don Trump's thinking. He is playing the game with 2020 in mind. By declaring his intent about Israel and Golan Height, he loses nothing, and his view the country loses nothing. We are not giving away New Jersey, or Florida to Israel after all. We are deciding the fate of a region about which it's own sovereign can't do nothing.
By making this outrageous statement, he gets Evangelicals in his pocket, and get a plank for his election platform. Progressives can have an aneurism, he could care less.
Come on Democratic candidates, wake up. It is on.
39
@A Common Man
Good point.
1
A decision without a consequence.
We must understand that this guy’s a fool and we’re filling in his many blanks, is what we must understand.
The Golan Heights is not ordinary territory, it is a strategic position which dominates the area and has so since antiquity.
Prior to the 1967 war, Syria regularly sent mortar fire into the Israeli farmland below. When Syria joined Egypt in attacking Israel, the Israeli repulsed the Syrians and took the Heights.
Over the ensuing years Syria claimed the Heights to maintain their legal position but knew that Israel would not voluntarily give up the Heights that secures northern Israel. That is why it is rarely discussed.
Trump’s move is barely symbolic since it changes nothing legally about the status of Golan. What it does though is serve Trump’s political needs here by highlighting to Jews his cynical support of Israel as Democrats struggle with their anti-Israel factions.
23
@GerardM "Prior to the 1967 war, Syria regularly sent mortar fire into the Israeli farmland below."
One. More. Time.
Israeli defense minister Moshe Dayan claimed that over 80% of fighting on the Syrian border was due to Israeli provocations, driven in large part for more land.
https://www.nytimes.com/1997/05/11/world/general-s-words-shed-a-new-light-on-the-golan.html
1
Even a broken clock is right once or twice a day. Israel has had the Golan Heights for over 50 years, and if they ever gave them back to Syria, it would take all of 5 minutes for the Syrians to start lobbing rockets into the rest of Israel from the heights.
This is one of the only things Trump has said that ISN'T completely ridiculous.
31
It isn’t ridiculous, it just violates international law and security council resolutions that the usa approved. Golan is also strategic because of the sea of galilea, a large source of fresh water for israel. Probably more strategically important than the high ground. Same with the high ground along the jordan river. Israel will never give these water sources back.
A negotiated compromise is usually how these things are settled. But that was before trumpworld....
6
There were no victims on 9/11; just US foreign policy collateral damage.
There were no American victims in their wars of aggression in Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria; just US foreign policy collateral damage.
There were no victims in London, Madrid, Bali or Stockholm; just more US foreign policy damage.
There were no refugee victims; just US foreign policy damage.
Looks like Israel is the only one who actually benefits from US foreign policy. Billions in aid, land grants, free military aid, complete cover in the UN...
And now another free gift from the US. It is a shame so many other countries and people have to keep paying the price for these free gifts.
36
@Face Facts Well,Israel is strategically important to US.So I say ,I'm 100% for recognition of Israel owning Golan Heights.
Trump has given into Israel on the embassy move and the Golan Heights issue and he got nothing in return from Israel. Is this how the “art of the deal” is done? I don’t think so.
19
@Doug What he gets is the "Evangelical" and "Jewish" voters for 2020. The "rapture" can now begin--according to Revelations. I hope these "Evangelicals" are prepared for Judgement day--Trump may be the "false prophet" which is also referenced in the scriptures.
16
@Doug:
If you do the right thing, you’re not “giving in”. It would be unseemly to seek something in exchange for good deeds.
Trump doesn’t often do the right thing, but on Jerusalem and Golan he indeed *has* done the right thing.
1
I agree but what I was getting at (as you probably recognized) was what does the United States get
Why would you give back a strategic location to your enemy ?
20
@Dennis Kubenka Giving it back wasn’t in play.
9
@Dennis Kubenka Why should someone who dislike you have to pay for stealing your stuff? Or give it back. They stole it so now it's theirs, right? Or do you suggest only "some" can argue like that?
From the equality of rights springs identity of our highest interests; you cannot subvert your neighbor's rights without striking a dangerous blow at your own.
-Carl Schurz
Didn't Israel WIN the war? war that Jordan and neighbors started, THEY LOST, now they want their land back? Israel giving back land for peace has no good result.
25
@Bobb
No.
Despite what Israel claims, the Six Day War began only after Israel launched a series of surprise airstrikes upon Egyptian airfields, destroying most of the Egyptian air force.
Also, international law does not allow countries involved in conflicts (no matter who they might claim was the instigator) to seize captured territories.
This is all easily googled.
30
@itsmecraig. The Six Day War began, as historians will all confirm, only after (i) Israel had endured the blockade by Egypt of the Straits of Tiran and its resulting stranglehold on Eilat, Israel's only southern seaport at the head of the Gulf of Eilat / Aqaba with its sole access to to the Red Sea, the Indian Ocean and beyond to East Africa and Asia, (ii) the order by the then Egyptian government for the UN to remove its peace keeping forces from the Egyptian side of the length of the Israel-Egypt border on the Sinai peninsula, (ii) the very visible build up of an Egyptian war machine, i.e. troops, aircraft (fighter planes and bombers) in their place and throughout the Sinai and (iv) the ever increasing talk of then Egyptian President Nasser of the coming invasion and destruction of the State of Israel by Egypt and his threat to drive the Jews into the sea. The war had begun. The military attack was coming, it was only a matter of time. Israel made a pre-emptive attack on the Egyptian airfields in Sinai so as to prevent the use of those aircraft in the attack on Israel that both sides clearly anticipated. The international community, in its shortsighted need to ascribe "blame" for the start of the war, choose only to look at the pre-emptive strike by Israel, not the just cause for that strike by Israel. In the 1973 Yom Kippur war Israel did not want to suffer that same international accusation. It waited for an Arab attack. We know how difficult that war was for Israel.
3
It worked with egypt. No one expects israel to give back golan. But we hope they will make peace with syria.
But since syria and israel are still in a state of war, you only unilaterally take land if you want the war to continue. Fighting wars to taking territories was back in the bad old days.
2
Sitting on the toilet bowl during "Executive Time" and tweeting out a royal decree, is not how the Laws are made here in the United States.
But then again, we have to remember that former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was absolutely correct.
25
I think Trump is using this issue to try to sow greater discord among the Democrats. There is already an underlying tension in the Democratic Party around Israel, anti-Semitism and AIPAC and a suggestion about annexation will surely create more friction which Trump likely hopes will divide the Democratic Party even further.
17
@Lawrence Brown That's right, and MoveOn calling on all Democratic candidates to boycott AIPAC and several of the candidates actually complying-Bernie Sanders already skipped AIPAC in 2016-is making it worse.
Sitting on his bed, propped-up by pillows, takes a bite of a burger and says to himself, “Time to shake things up and start a new story. Let’s make it global. Easy, type this ... wait for it ... boom, done. And they call this a difficult job. I get things done. Need more fries.”
35
And Greenblatt represents the interest, long and short term of which country exactly?
14
@waldo, your dual-loyalty comment is exactly anti-Semitic. why the assumption that Greenblatt doesn't have US interests at heart? What about previously involved US Jews working on the peace process? were they too automatically working FOR Israel? Just because a Jewish-American is hired to do a job, where their expertise in the region may be strong for obvious reasons, and even if they are personally sympathetic to Israel because of ethnic ties, this doesn't mean they are disloyal to US interests in any way.
Would you accuse a Japanese-American of being disloyal simply because they have an interest in Japan?
Move the Embassy back, and let them keep Golan.
Constant artillery shelling and infiltration have long term consequences.
Can you guarantee that the government you broker a peace deal with in Syria will be in power five years form now?
One year from now?
3
Can you guarantee a usa gov’t will keep it’s agreements with canada, mexico and eu? Always that risk in negotiating with governments. Especially this administration.
3
An admirable trait of Mr. Trump is that he goes out of his way to reward those who help him to achieve a goal, in particular when the rewards are not coming out of his own pocket. (This peculiarity can be fully explained in terms of Mr. Trump's narcissistic tendencies, but that is subject of another comment.) For instance, those who helped him get elected - with few exceptions - have all received either a position in, or some kind of concession from, the US government.
Given Russia's critical role in Mr. Trump's victory in 2016 election, from day one in the White House, he has been looking for ways to pay back Mr. Putin's "favor" in some form. It seems that, with the help of Mr. Netanyahu - who happens to have an exceptionally warm relationship with Mr. Putin - he has finally discovered a way for doing that.
By declaring that US is recognizing Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights, Mr. Trump is giving Mr. Putin what he always wanted: legitimacy of Russia's annexation of Crimea. So, rest assured that, if he gets re-elected in 2020, Mr. Trump will be also removing economic sanctions imposed on Russia. After all, a country cannot be punished for doing something that has been legitimized by the US.
13
@Eddie B. Could it be possible that a man who has lied about 9000 times in about 20 some months as President be given a second chance?, I do not think so, but my is only one vote.
10
@samuel a alvarez another 4 years coming. Don't want it but sorry buddy. Its gonna happen.
How Trump is still in office shows how severely broken our government is.
He tweeted this announcement to the world.
21
What is notable is Trump is doing this major policy *reversal* during an election campaign in Israel, clearly to boost Netanyahu's chances at getting re-elected.
What does Netanyahu stand for in this election? Netanyahu is in an explicit electoral bloc with the pro-Kahane party, a party that only recently would have been banned in Israel for its extremism. Now it is welcomed into the government with open arms. An election campaign where Netanyahu has said the nation doesn't belong to 20% of its citizens. The same Netanyahu the national prosecutor in Israel wants to charge with corruption.
So, Trump is endorsing an explicitly anti-Arab candidate who has aligned himself with a party calling for the ethnic cleansing of Israel, all the while being charged with gross corruption by supporting an annexation the US explicitly *opposed* under the Reagan administration.
19
@Paul F Let's put this matter in perspective. Yes, Bibi is an immoral opportunist, who is making common cause with Otzma Yehudit (which is like the successor to the Kach party of the late Meir Kahane) and I was repulsed by his opportunistic cynicism. The reason that he is doing this is because, BY ITSELF< OY would not be able to cross the minimum support threshold. Let that sink in. Bibi is doing this in order to retain the vote of the few thousand people in ISrael who would vote for this party. I hope and pray that Benny Gantz and Yair Lapid, moderate centrists will win the next election-it's time for new leaders. Leaders with principles.
1
Anybody who has visited the Golan Heights and who remembers how, before 1967, Syria would shoot at Israeli civilians down near the Sea of Galilea, understands that Israel will never return that strategic location.
Borders around the world are the result of conflict and of logical considerations. The Golan is just another realistic territorial adjustment.
Legalistic and theoretical considerations are nice for UN bureaucrats and for NY liberals, but are without any local logic.
23
@Harry:
Good observations.
If Israel had conquered Golan in a war of aggression, Israel would have no moral or legal right to hold it. However, Israel occupied Golan as the result of defensive military actions. Moreover, Syria never tried to negotiate a peace treaty with Israel, and it remains implacably hostile. Syria has no right to be rewarded for its aggression and continuing hostility.
4
@Michael N. Alexander Defensive military actions, according to Israeli defense minister Moshe Dayan:
https://www.nytimes.com/1997/05/11/world/general-s-words-shed-a-new-light-on-the-golan.html
General Dayan interrupted: ''Never mind that. After all, I know how at least 80 percent of the clashes there started. In my opinion, more than 80 percent, but let's talk about 80 percent. It went this way: We [Israel] would send a tractor to plow some area where it wasn't possible to do anything, in the demilitarized area, and knew in advance that the Syrians would start to shoot. If they didn't shoot, we would tell the tractor to advance farther, until in the end the Syrians would get annoyed and shoot. And then we would use artillery and later the air force also, and that's how it was.''
''But I can tell you with absolute confidence, the delegation that came to persuade Eshkol to take the [Golan] heights was not thinking of these things. They were thinking about the heights' land. Listen, I'm a farmer, too. After all, I'm from Nahalal, not from Tel Aviv, and I know about it. I saw them, and I spoke to them. They didn't even try to hide their greed for that land.''
1
Local Logic. Absolutely hut the nail on the head!
Recognized as a fact or not, the military geopolitics here is paramount. I am not a trump fan. His comments and arguments are absurd and inane. But to reiterate only if and when the GHs can be secure, then maybe other things can occur.
Let me just ask, equate this situation with the Cuban Missile crisis. Though we didn't invade Cuba, not successfully I might add, we made sure that we didn't have to worry about looking south every few minutes.
I kind of guess, considering history and proclamations pointing to the destruction of Israel, giving this back to Syria would not be in the best interests of the occupying forces or their country. This situation was brought about by a military attack and repulsed and presently maintained by necessary force.
Trump getting into it just makes it messy, as does most everything he touches, with a new Midas style curse .
4
By United States recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights (in last minute stage of Israeli elections),
Trump and crew are clearly trying to influence the elections in Israel.
Trump wants Netanyahu as the winner and our recognition
of Golan Heights will help Netanyahu in that election.
The Trump administration cannot really be upset about Russia's interference in our elections as he has now decided
to do the very same thing to the Israeli elections.
This is simply just another example of the crooked way that Trump and Crew work the system.
We must do better than this.
26
The only question I have for Mr. Trump is why? How does this help America and to whom does he owe money or favors - disgraceful
15
We are now enablers and accomplices in the violation of the Geneva Conventions. How sad our nation has become so quickly.
22
During an interview with Fox News, Trump claimed the timing of the announcement had nothing to do with Prime Minister Netanyahu's re-election prospects. He also implied that he was not paying much attention to the upcoming Israeli election. Thus, with lies numbers 10,001 and 10,002, he effectively confirmed that the timing was indeed relevant and that he was closely monitoring the Israeli election with his friend, Netanyahu.
21
Why stir up this stuff now? Who cares whether Golan is ‘recognized’ by the international community?
4
That would be tantamount to giving Germany Danzig and Pomerania after being defeated in ww2, since it was theirs prior. The fact is Israel won that war and took the territory as is the case in all wars. I never understood the US position. There are consequences to actions. I write this as someone who did not vote for DT and will vote for the Democrat in the primary most likely to defeat him.
13
@Northcountry it is not the case in all wars, and have been forbidden for a couple generations, but hey I understand you don't know nothing about UN and what rules all members agreed on
It's ironic that these two "peas in the same pod" have "engineered" their land grab of "condoning" the Golan Heights from Trump to Netanyahu for Israel, on the eve of Israeli elections, and the eve of investigations of the Trump administration.
Trump's actions are solely to intentionally influence Bibi's reelection efforts, despite the stench of his pending indictment(s).
Not to mention that Trump is under investigation by both federal and state authorities in the US for various and numerous, potential allegations, which have yet to be formalized, one way or another.
Further, the article also comments upon this action could potentially incite an analogous land grab by Putin of Crimea.
If that is the case, and if that incites Trump to propose American military action there, Trump send Kushner there to negotiate, and send his sons to the front lines with the rest of our American military there to represent Trump, who evaded military service due to his "bone spur".
Finally, the best thing that could happen for Israel and the US in the upcoming Israeli election, would be for new Israeli leaders Gantz and Lapid to prevail over Netanyahu and his indictments.
10
Once again Mr. Trump is giving away a bargaining chip with nothing in return. Thomas Friedman pointed this out when the President unilaterally announced he was relocating the American embassy to Jerusalem. Do we have a coherent foreign policy? What are our objectives? It still appears that Mr Trump’s major goal is to see his name on the front page of the newspaper every day, much like seeing his name on as many buildings as possible.
46
@Howard
Why do we have to always get something from our allies for doing what's right ?
7
@Howard The Golan Heights is not his to give away. Who does he think he is?
16
@Howard Golan Heights was NEVER a bargaining chip. It has become and will always be part of Israel no matter what party is in power. To withdraw is national suicide.
13
Thank you President Trump.
Next please withdraw from the UN.
Replace it with a Democracy League. The UN has too may bad actors and enemies of the US.
29
@Reader In Wash, DC
Would this "Democracy League" include the United States, where a presidential candidate can win the most number of votes and still lose the election? Would this "Democracy League" include the United States, where the Republican Party has been trying to disenfranchise African American voters?
19
Can you clarify what you mean by bad actors? Countries that Trump abhors, like Canada and Germany, or countries that he admires, like Russia or North Korea?
I agree that the United States has lost any pretense to supporting peace and human rights, and should be expelled if Trump secures a second term. It's just a little early still for that.
5
@Reader In Wash, DC - I applaud your suggestion. Even better, build a beautiful wall all around the United States, withdraw from all international agreements and alliances, stop trade and all contact with the outside world. Maybe the world (at least outside the US) would be a better place?
5
Mr.Trump makes clear that we do not recognize the most fundamental elements of international law that preserved the territorial integrity of any state regardless of military, economic or political power. He now legitimizes the rule of powerful nations over any others. This goes all the way back to the Westphalia Accords signed in 1648 that stopped the ongoing religious wars in Europe. They recognized the elemental rights of nation states thereby delegitimizing powerful countries declaring spheres of influence in order to grab territory from their neighbors.
Mr. Trump sits next to Mr. Putin in Crimea, and Xi in the South China Sea in asserting that the power gives them the right to establish borders wherever they see fit. Many other third and second world dictators will see opportunities in grabbing resources and playing to their xenophobic supporters.
This policy represents America's symbolic shift from a constructive world leader to a radical power grabbing xenophobic giant that does not understand itself or the world around it. We are setting course for a violent dangerous future without understanding any of the implications.
Is the Republican Senate so corrupted by power and ignorance that it will not stand against this? Mr McConnell has trampled on the edges of constitutional law to stay in power. Will he finally stand up and fight back?
92
@Tim Cassedy
Perhaps realistic view should prevail. However, Israel as not required to give up anything for this bit of generosity, and those opposed got nothing. Will Israel be terr-behaved towards its less-powerful neighbors? It looks like taunting to me.
"This goes all the way back to the Westphalia Accords signed in 1648 ..."
There's no such thing as "the Westphalia Accords". And, if you are going to cite international law, try to find an example of a CURRENT international treaty.
4
@Tim Cassedy McConnell is compromised along with many others--Graham, Nunes, King, C. Collins.....they are all too far down the rabbit hole--buckle up--we're in for quite a bumpy ride ahead. Trump has finally crossed the line and this will be the "crisis"that we all feared but knew was coming. Are you winning yet?
1
The ignorance and/or defiance of recognized international norms, by many of the commenters below, is disturbing. Sadly, it is not particularly surprising.
The acquisition of territory by conquest has not been considered legitimate since the Napoleonic era, and is specifically forbidden by the UN Charter. Conquered territory is considered an "ill-gotten gain" and arguments that "the other guy started it/deserved it" are simply invalid as a matter of international law.
It is quite clear that many of our fellow citizens don't know this and, furthermore, insist on not accepting it. At least, that is true when the conquering power is considered a special case -- as is virtually always the case with Israel. We treat that nation as we treat ourselves -- as exceptional.
We don't actually have any principles by which we live, when living by principle becomes inconvenient. Rules are for those other folks.
55
@Douglas
Ok, but what if you were the attacked and not the attacker?
I think one of the oddities of the entire Israel situation is that Israel was the victim of attacks. Israel, like Vietnam, is one of the few nations to beat back an attacker (and a larger hostile force at that). Vietnam is viewed as a courageous underdog. Israel as viewed as a monster.
If some bully tried to beat me up and take my lunch, but I beat HIM up and took HIS lunch, I think most people would applaud that. How is Israel NOT like the smaller kid who trounced the bigger bully?
11
>>> "If some bully tried to beat me up and take my lunch, but I beat HIM up and took HIS lunch, I think most people would applaud that."
I wouldn't. I would be fine with your beating up the attacker, as long as you didn't go beyond what was necessary and reasonable for self-defense.
You would have no excuse, none, for taking his lunch. That so many, like you, can't understand or accept this is deeply discouraging -- and a poor omen for humanity's future.
2
Based in alot of these letters, schools in the usa neglect to teach history, morality, the geneva convention and the usa constitution.
There are apps available for those that want to educate themselves on the constitution and agreements on armed conflicts....
3
Putin will be thrilled that the U.S. approves of annexing portions of neighboring countries by military force.
38
@W.A. Spitzer: Flawed reasoning!
Israel was attacked by Syria through Golan. Their action was *defensive*. Russia, by contrast, was a military *aggressor*.
Putin will be thrilled to see Americans who don’t understand that elementary distinction.
1
Is it your wish that Israel return the land to Syria so that Syria can resume using it to attack Israel with mortars?
Isn't it their land? They're stealing it fair and square. One settlement at a time.
32
Really?
No outrage of President Bashar al-Assad and his brutal regime running - and ruining - Syria, causing hundreds of thousands of refugees to flee the murder and brutality, trying desperately to seek a safe refuge in Europe and elsewhere?
And what about his father attacking Israel in 1967 - and shockingly losing the war...and this vitally strategic high ground?
Sure...have Israel give up its saving defense of a country that’s smaller than New Jersey - with Iran controlling Lebanon.
Look at the map, folks.
10
@Richard Wait-- from whom did the Brits and the colonists steal Savannah? Or was Tomachichi just so thrilled to meet the British that he just gave them all that territory for Christmas?
@Steven NYC
Golan Heights belongs to Syrians not to Al-Asad. Enough if the ostrich reasoning.
Netanyahu seems to be staking out a partnership with the US Republican party. The same US Republican party that also seems to have a partnership with Russia. I suppose when one takes bribes, it is easier to be partners with others who take bribes. As for Trump, he sells America pretty cheap. He only seeks personal enrichment for himself, not security or prosperity for his employers, the American people.
42
@WeHadAllBetterPayAttentionNow Under Trump rule US lost the world respect and leadership role.
5
@WeHadAllBetterPayAttentionNow
If my memory does not fail me I think that after the unconscionable act of the towers in New York in 2001 the person who took responsibility for it said that it was done because of the way "our Palestinian brothers have been treated" and also again if my memory does not fail me the Arabs people were willing to recognize Israel and make peace if Israel return to the borders of 1967. If that is the case why not to do so?
Just another controversial stunt to try to distract from the looming fallout of the Mueller report.
What's next? Recognition of Russia's right to annex the Crimea?
The U.S. electorate must put this tormented administration out of it's misery come 2020.
34
@Skeptical Cynic
what a mess now after just two years, where will be after 2 more years like that? Heaven help us!
4
The USA may recognize Golan as Israeli territory if it wants to, but any argument for the return of Crimea to Ukraine would be gone.
16
Just because he can . To cash in again, personally from Sheldon Adelson. The lowest of the low. Going counter to all serious 2 state proponents.
34
The Israeli army took the Golan Heights for rather practical military reasons. It was a staging base from which the Syrians attacked them. Take the high ground!
They will keep the Golan Heights regardless of what the US does or does not do. To pretend that this is an issue in which the US has or should have any say is ridiculous.
46
@Penseur Which makes this pronouncement by Trump all the more craven. It is nothing more than an attempt to a foundering make Netanyahu look good.
4
@Penseur....You are right. It is an issue in which the U.S. has no say....and therefore they shouldn't say anything.
4
So taking another country’s land by invasion is okay?
This is a blazing example of why the 25th Amendment exists.
Use it!
29
The reality on the ground is that Iran and ISIS/other terrorists is the major threat to the region. Israel and Saudi Arabia, the Gulf States are aligned with Israel against a nuclear Iran.
Meanwhile Israeli drones have been (not so) secretly assisting Egyptian police and military in Sinai to help protect themselves and civilians from terrorists. The Egyptians know that without Israeli assistance, many lives both civilian and military/police would have been lost.
Egypt and the Arab states realize that the fundamental problem with the Palestinians not receiving a state has nothing to do with Israel and much to do with the Palestinian leadership. Moreover, Arabs and Muslims in the Middle East see Arabs/Muslims killing far, far more Arabs/Muslims than Israelis are doing.
The best way for the Palestinians to get their own country is to work with Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Israeli Arabs to hold new elections -- almost a decade after they were supposed to occur in 2010.
17
@David MD All the recent fighting between arabs was directly caused by our meddling and attempting to destabilize those countries for what goal (pipeline? Israelis interests? its debatable). In all of those we have failed. Seems like it always comes to the same...create havoc so you can sell them weapons and again and again repeat until they finally realize that they are being played.
8
@David MD..."The reality on the ground is that Iran and ISIS/other terrorists is the major threat to the region."....You do know that Iran and ISIS (sponsored by the Saudi's) are on the opposite ends of the spectra?
2
@David MD Iran is not a threat. if anything it’s the other way around. ISIS is the real enemy and is supported by the barbaric Saudi regime. Americans are wising up to Iran’s constant demonization and are rightly questioning support for the Saudis when they are much worse. Iran has been the victim of American regime change and continues to be the target of covert operations against it. Nevertheless, it has repeatedly extended an olive branch to the US only to be turned down by a warmongering neocon cabal which does not represent the majority of Americans.
Let us hope that Trump’s rewarding of Israel’s aggression and illegal occupation of the Golan heights will once and for all put an end to the “rules based order” trope that US journalists love to toss about. It may have had some credence after the end of WWII but since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the US neocon foreign policy establishment has made us the world’s most prolific international law breaker.
US diplomatic protection and billions in arm sales to outlaw states such as Israel and Saudi Arabia should put to rest the idea the we are anything other than the world’s most dangerous rogue state. Our ongoing regime change operations across the Middle East and Africa, ongoing economic war against Iran and Venezuela, and ongoing push to expand our fossil fuel production in the face of the coming climate catastrophe puts us in a very special category as the greatest threat to world peace. We have no peer competitors.
25
@Chris G: How many times must itbe repeated that Syria was the aggressor and that Israel fought a defensive war? Moreover, since Syria has never tried to make peace with Israel, Israel’s occupation of Golan is utterly legal.
1
Even if the anger of the Arabs is misplaced or insincere, I don’t see how the US gains by this action. Would we have lost the friendship of the State of Israel if this declaration had not been made? No. Was Israel being forced to leave the Golan Heights? No.
I think Trump is looking for something to do other than rail against John McCain and black professional athletes or give aviation engineers advice on computer operations.
22
The US and the Europeans have had a moral duty to recognize Israeli sovereignty many decades ago.
14
@Thomas Paine
The British long ago made promises to all sides that were incompatible. What exactly is the "moral duty" you cite and were does it come from? Does that mean that the rights of other claimants are just "collateral damage?" Or do you think we only have moral duties to people more like western Europeans?
3
Israel is recognized as a sovereign nation by almost every other country on earth. It is a member of the UN. The point of Golan Heights revolves on if that territory which was captured during a war should be also annexed and become sovereign belonging to Israel. Just like should Berlin be Soviet after WWII or should Japan be part of USA after WWII etc.
@Thomas Paine Why should the Arab nations have to have a "moral duty"? The US and Europeans should have given up some of their territory to the Jews. Arab nations should not be punished for WWII.
Does this really make any difference?
In any case, Isreal would never relinquish control of the Golan Heights! This was done for political reasons in an effort to somehow show US support to The Netanyahu Government. Does anyone think that if the US said that Isreal should abandon the Golan Heights, that that would happen? Never!
15
When there is a war between two or more countries, the land captured by the victor has traditionally belonged to the victor.
The United Nations opposes such an approach only when the victor is Israel.
24
@Michael Anasakta...."When there is a war between two or more countries, the land captured by the victor has traditionally belonged to the victor."....Only if a tradition from the Middle Ages qualifies.
5
@W.A. Spitzer: But when the *aggressor’s* land is captured and the aggressor refuses to make peace ...
1
Concerning the biggest cases in the 20th Century. Not the case for Japan. Not the case for Germany. Not the case for Italy. Not the case for Iraq.
mmm, Trump and Netanyahu, two corrupt leaders bankrolled by (among others) Sheldon Adelson, all of a sudden, 3 weeks before Israeli elections, come up with another dirty PR trick.
Trump knows nothing about nothing, yet holds an iron grip on public attention. Netanyahuis fighting for his political survival and might as well end up in jail as he's facing multiple criminal indictments.
23
If Trump can simply say the words and presto, it's done, who's to say that a future president won't simply say the opposite and it's all just as easily reversed, including taking back U.S. recognition of Israel's annexation of the Golan Heights and returning the U.S. Embassy back from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv? Trump has no way of making sure that a future president won't do the exact same thing to him what he's tried to do to Obama, total erasure of Obama's accomplishments.
I have to say, though, that whether or not this latest step had been taken by Trump, nothing changes the fact that it's clear that GH can be used to really threaten the state of Israel. So if I were Israel, I would not want to even think about returning GH unless Syria was a stable state and also a country that Israel could trust. I would be seeing this as an existential matter. But I can't overlook the fact that Israel wouldn't have seized GH in the first place if Syria hadn't attacked Israel. If Poland can annex part of eastern Germany after WWII, as another post here says, because it was attacked by Germany in WWII, why can't Israel do the same with GH? Why is the UN against Israel annexing GH? If that post is accurate, then am I not sensing a double standard here?
6
@Dov Todd Get your historical facts straight. Poland became part of the USSR after WWII--as did East Germany. Remember--Communism?
1
It hurts to agree with Trump. But he’s right on this. The Heights are part of the Land of Israel. More importantly, Israel needs the Heights to defend itself from instability or hostility from Syria. The Heights are peaceful and prosperous as part of Israel and its residents (mostly Druze, I think) live in comfort and safety. Does anybody really think inviting Assad - and by necessary implication Putin - to overlook Galilee and control the headwaters of the Jordan would make the world a better place?
25
@Stephen Thom
Occupying another countries land does not make it yours. If they want that land the only way they legitimately get it is thru negotiation. As long as Trump is president no real progress towards peace will occur.
5
@Stephen Thom Sorry to burst your bubble; but Trump has now guaranteed that this "peaceful and prosperous" land will now be anything but. Do you really think the Arab nations will just allow this to happen especially after the move of the Embassy? Trump has really done it this time.
1
Can we expect that our President will offer the same to Russia for their annexation of the Crimean Peninsula and the Ukraine Donbass area? China claims a large part of the South China sea, including all of Taiwan. Perhaps he will order our Naval forces to respect China’s claim of sovereignty for that region as a bargaining chip for the trade talks with China.
44
@Jose Pieste But Ukraine resulted a loss because Crimea was their territory.
According to this news article: "Mr. Trump’s announcement is at odds with international law and decades of American policy in the Middle East." More nonsense from our anti-Israeli friends in the corporate media.
International law is supposed to be a reflection of custom and norms. In 1967, Syria attacked Israel without justification. Syria lost the war and was defeated. Israel seized the land and continues to occupy the land in self-defense to protect the interior of Israel by Arab invasion from Syria. For 50 years, instead of negotiating a peace treaty, Syria has continued to attack Israel and has harbored terrorists, including Hezbollah, who peddle in nothing but death and destruction.
The 1967 UN Resolution simply recognizes that the parties should negotiate to determine sovereignty over the land. Syria has not even attempted to negotiate in good faith. Therefore, they should get nothing like the Palestinians, who also refuse to come to the table and negotiate. The UN resolution does not do away with the traditional doctrine of self-defense.
33
@johnny
Really? What is there to negotiate when most key decisions are taken off the table?
Playing out your model, a stronger power takes over a part of its neighbor, declares that it doesn’t want to give it up, and then says it is ready to negotiate. Yours is the law of the jungle...and replicated in Ukraine, Middle East, South China Sea, Kashmir, etc.
I thought humanity was better, but am losing faith
17
@johnny
Nevertheless, there was no pressing need to do this now, or any time soon. Despite international law and the UN resolutions, Israel has controlled the GH for 50+ years and has no intention of relinquishing it. trump's action is nothing but a blatant gift to his buddy Netanyahu, which has potentially destabilizing consequences for the world at large. Unfortunately for all of us, checkers is all he has the brainpower to play.
4
@johnny In 1967, Syria attacked Israel without justification.
One more time, this is what Israeli defense minister Moshe Dayan said:
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/21/us/politics/golan-heights-trump.html#commentsContainer
. After all, I know how at least 80 percent of the clashes there [Syrian border] started. In my opinion, more than 80 percent, but let's talk about 80 percent. It went this way: We [Israel] would send a tractor to plow some area where it wasn't possible to do anything, in the demilitarized area, and knew in advance that the Syrians would start to shoot. If they didn't shoot, we would tell the tractor to advance farther, until in the end the Syrians would get annoyed and shoot. And then we would use artillery and later the air force also, and that's how it was.''
''But I can tell you with absolute confidence, the delegation that came to persuade Eshkol to take the heights was not thinking of these things. They were thinking about the heights' land. Listen, I'm a farmer, too. After all, I'm from Nahalal, not from Tel Aviv, and I know about it. I saw them, and I spoke to them. They didn't even try to hide their greed for that land.''
I know that this country, being the exceptional entity that it is, recognizes no international laws or covenants (including ones we have signed) but even for us this is outrageous. What is our standing in this matter? How do we dare give permission to another government to simply take as its own territory occupied since an armed conflict? The United States and its client state in the Middle East apparently believe that they can cross borders and bomb sovereign territories at will without answering to any higher authority, they can also draw whatever borders they wish wherever they wish.
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Russia has long had the same philosophy.
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Note also Trump has threatened to bomb Iran and then took it back after he was spoken to by more experienced government officials
Can we expect that our President will offer the same to Russia for their annexation of the Crimean Peninsula and the Ukraine Donbass area? China claims a large part of the South China Sea, including all of Taiwan. Perhaps he will order our Naval forces to respect China’s claim of sovereignty for that region as a bargaining chip for the "easy" trade talks with China.
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Perhaps, a little history will help. This region did once belong to Syria. The problem is that Syria used these heights to fire on Israelis down below. When the ‘67 War broke out, the Israeli army pushed back the Syrians and captured these heights. Israel, initially was ready to return this land for a solid peace plan that would put an end to the killing of Israeli citizens below. Syria, at the time, like other neighboring Muslim countries surrounding Israel, refused any peace negotiations with her and, in fact, met at the Khartoum Conference in 1967 and agreed that there would be “No negotiations with Israel, no recognition of Israel and no peace with Israel’. Over the next few decades, Syria demanded that Israel return the Heights, but, once again, was unwilling to sign a peace accord. For over 50 years, Syria has refused to sign any peace deal with Israel. There is a price to pay for decades of shooting at civilians like sitting ducks and, if after 50 years, Syria still cannot bring itself to make peace with Israel, then it will finally have to pay that price.
5
Putin and Xi must be overjoyed and laughing so hard. The implications of Trump's action are incalculable in terms of the damages done to international law and sovereignty. Might makes rights. Weak nations are trembling. A race to militarily arming up is on. Trump is a gift that keeps on giving.
The sanctions that the US and its Nato allies placed on Russia following its annexation of Crimea are now ring so hollow and hypocritical as is the claim of freedom of navigation in the South China Sea. More than 70 years of building an international order that provides world stability and mostly peace has now been destroyed and trampled.
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Do you people really prefer that the Golan be controlled by Assad? What a boon for democracy and human rights
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@Gary Rylander I haven't actually read anyone suggesting that. "We people" would seem to think the status quo should be left as is for now.
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@Gary Rylander
Unless I'm mistaken no one was suggesting that Israel give up the Golan Heights to Assad. Israel has controlled the area for decades. The question is: why poke a hornet's nest? And, why now?
The Israeli election is around the corner and Bibi needs all the help he can get. However, this move could backfire and it's tragic because settlers and villagers will lose their lives in the back and forth retaliation that is sure to follow. All this so that Bibi can win an election. It's unconscionable.
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@Mel
So kick the can down the road forever ? Then what ?
One corrupt hand feeds the other.
Trump uses the power of the Presidency to reward his friends, it is as simple as that.
With the Israeli elections a week a way, the smart money was that Trump would pull a stunt like this, Decades and decades of U.S. foreign policy flushed down the toilet, so as to ingratiate himself with Netanyahu and the Israeli people and throw a close election Netanyahu's way.
Trump worked in conjunction with Putin on the 2016 U.S. election, so nothing he does should come as a surprise.
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@Babel One corrupt hand feeds the other.
FEEDS OR WASHES?
3
With Jared Kushner being in charge of this "peace process", why are we surprised at all regarding the extreme favoritism towards Israel? It doesn't hurt either, that Bibi understands how showering praises on Trump and company can strongly facilitate such favors from POTUS.
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I guess this means that the US will never again object to any other nation who forcefully takes control of any adjacent country or territory. Russia's annexation of Crimea is just fine, and we will have no logical or consistent objection to China invading and taking over Taiwan. North Korea can finally bolster its army and regain control of the entire Korean peninsula. That is only the start---how many other nations will now see this as a green light for whatever they want to do? This may be among the most consequential of Trump's many inane foreign policy actions to date, and (as is always the case) no thought whatsoever was given to the long term ramifications or the rule of law.
God help us.
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@James I'm pretty sure it was the Arabs that attacked first and agreed they never wanted peace with israel. They lost and lost some territory...too bad so sad.
Alright, who really controls Trump, Bibi or Putin?
A further question, can Trump actually do this unilaterally or can Congress rein him in?
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@D. Knight: if Congress tries anything to rein him in, he'll just ignore them and Congress will just lay there, supine and impotent
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JUST SAY NO! Don't do this! I am a Jew and a Zionist and wish that the present administration, whose behavior I oppose in every single sphere of action, would stop using Israel to provoke other countries in the region. This would be an unnecessary provocation, conferring no benefit to Israel and making the US seem like a puppet of that small state.
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@Ellen Tabor
Submission is not a strategy.
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Completely agree.
Trump doesn't preside, he campaigns. The Golan give-back is not his to give, but his supporters in the religious Right will be pleased enough with a good show, even a cheap-shot one written in the bloodless ink of a Tweet.
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This real estate should be named Golem Heights because the United States is the protector. What do we get besides a war with Iran?
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Some people do not realize that the Arabs on the Golan do not want to be put back under Assad’s rule.
They want to be part of Israel.
There is no reason to oppose Israel’s annexation.
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@SG Maybe. But I couldn't find the poll numbers you refer to. Can you supply?
3
@SG Yes there is. Right now Israel controls the the majority of the area so it's strategic concerns are being met. With the UN buffer between them and the Syrian part, the area is relatively peaceful. When peace comes to the Middle East (I'm not sure it will be in my lifetime) they can finally sort it out. Right now it's a dilemma. Israel cannot cede control to Syria as it would create a serious strategic threat to the northern part of Israel but if Israel takes full control it will further inflame passions in the area. It's an unnecessary provocation. The best course of action is take no action. Trump's motivation for this is highly suspect and is unlikely in the USA's best interests.
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@kenneth
I served in the Israel Defense Forces with Druze. Unlike other Arabs, they choose to be part of Israeli society.
This whole conversation is ridiculous. No one wants to be ruled by Assad. He is a mass murderer.
It is a moral outrage that some are suggesting otherwise.
Would it be any surprise that this move is helped to aid Netenahu in his elections and if he wins he will do the same for Trump??
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@EnoughAlready - yes on both
What is really important is not words and sentiments, but actions. What has President Trump actually done to help Israel? To recognize the legitimacy of an occupation is meaningless unless we were either poised to defend it or to chase Israel out.
As I see it, this is what Trump has really done for (to) Israel:
1. Disclosed secrets from Israel to Russia, with enough detail that the latter could identify Israel as the source.
2. Blew up the Iran treaty to stop their weapons programs, escalating the level of danger in the middle east.
3. Taken our climate policy in the wrong direction, increasing problems for the entire world, especially countries already forced to grow food with minimal water resources.
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Trump supports war crimes.
This is not a big surprise.
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@F I just reread the story looking for reference to the war crimes you mentioned. Couldn't find it.
3
It comes down to two words: election and Netanyahu. Neither Jared nor DJT could locate the region on a map and the only reason this is happening now is because Bibi needs a lifeline from a fellow dirty dealer.
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Many commenters here imply that the appropriation of neighboring foreign lands by a more powerful country, or victor of war, is deserved. Thus, Trump endorses ceding the Golan Heights to Israel, because bellicose neighboring Syria gambled, and lost.
One should reflect on the 1918 Treaty of Versailles, which ended World War I. This included the ceding of Lorraine-Alsace from bellicose Germany to victorious France.
Look how that turned out.
No matter how history may judge which side was "correct", the other side "bad," it is inappropriate to include ceding foreign land to the militarily superior nation as part of the just resolution of war.
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@Victor Mark
So is Alsace Lorraine now part of Germany or France?
2
@Victor Mark Who are you to decide that ceding of land to a victor that was invaded by multiple hostile arabs in "inappropriate" anyone willing to use violence must understand the consequences of losing a fight they picked.
Can a president do this without Congress voting?
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First the US embassy is moved to Jerusalem and then the
President wants the US to recognize the Golan Heights.The
moves in regards to Israel is what he promised to his base.
We'll be left to see how Syria and it's benefactor Iran react,
however its's in our and Israel's best interest. Is Gaza next?
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This will only stok more fighting and bloodshed in the area. The Commander and Chief Negotiator said he was going to bring peace in the region. This is a horrible step backward.
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Trump is an extreme example. However, many US politicians behave like they love Israel much more than USA.
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@DX - yes, the cause is Sheldon Adelson, largest briber of Republican politicians.
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Hold your horses.
Trump did not recognize Golan Heights as a part of Israel. He said that the US “should”.
And for the US to recognize, that must, at the very least, get a two-thirds majority in the Senate.
Even then there is the “Supremacy Clause”. We are bound by UN treaty which means that we have to abide by UNSC resolutions and in this case #497. That, by the “Supremacy Clause”, is the “supreme Law of the Land”. (I hope I have the capitalization right).
… and then Trump’s position changes every nanosecond.
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Israel did not “seize “ the golan heights.
Israel was attacked by the Arabs and won.
Big difference.
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Seems like just another time when he wants to recognize reality, rather than what you might like in a PC way. Same as where the embassy is located.
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It certainly looks like Jared is in a rush to get stuff done before he gets indicted...
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How much did Trump charge for this?
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Probably nothing.
His "art of the deal" never seems to involve actually getting a good deal.
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@Endarkened You mean for the American public, I'm talking about Trump. Those are 2 completely different entities.
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It is all about marginalizing Palestinians and brown people in general. We know what kind of people Trump and Netanyahu are. Many in Israel's power structure have come from outside The Middle East, and have come there to seize power and seize land.
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Let’s be cognizant of history here, and of the distinctions between Israel-Golan and other cases cited in these comments (e.g., Russia-Crimea):
(1) Israel took control of the Golan during the 1967 War in which the armies of surrounding countries (including Syria) were poised to attack it and had pledged to “wipe Israel off the map”
(2) The other claimant of the Golan is Bashar Al-Assad, a man responsible for the slaughter, torture and dispossession of hundreds of thousands of his own citizens, following similar criminal practices undertaken over many years by his father who preceded him. (Not exactly a legacy of freedom and human rights.)
(3) Syria is controlled by Iran which — in addition to being the world’s primary state-sponsor of terror, including via Hezbollah — has pledged its nation to Israel’s destruction
So while some in these comments cry “colonialism”, “might makes right” and similar ahistorical drivel, common sense and the interests of the United States suggest that President Trump did the right thing today, regardless of how impossible that may seem to some readers.
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@Jerry W....Iran may not be warm and fuzzy, but to proclaim that it is the world's primary state-sponsor of terror without citing a single example is way over the top. Can you cite any examples?
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Trump will do anything for the evangelical vote.
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Jared and Sheldon Adelson are just showing what is important to themselves and America is far down on that list.
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Note to the Arab nations that attacked Israel, unprovoked, in 1967: this is what you get when you choose not to peacefully coexist.
I vehemently disagree with Trump's policies on virtually every subject, with the exception (for the most part) of his policies on Israel. The peace process with the Palestinians is moribund, and will be moribund for as long as the Palestinians refuse every settlement offer and continue to insist on the "right of return," so Trump's decision to move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem is of no consequence. As for the Golan Heights, as other commenters have correctly noted, Israel is less likely to give it back than China is to give back Tibet.
But there are no Trump Cards, so to speak, in Trump's hand on the U.S. recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights. The U.N. would never go along, of course, so what's the point from that perspective? And Trump's base doesn't even know where the Golan Heights is, or care. So Trump wanting the U.S. to recognize the GH as part of Israel just seems like pointless overkill.
I will only add that Israel's seizure of the GH cannot be equated with Putin's seizure of Crimea. Israel was defending itself in an existential war that it didn't start, and took the GH during the war for its strategic self-defense. Russia was the aggressor vis-a-vis Crimea, and simply annexed it because Putin felt like doing so.
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@ALB Unprovoked? There were many Jewish rebel attacks on neighbors.
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@ALB
Trump is extremely popular among voters who are pro-Israel on religious grounds. Even if many of them couldn't point to the Golan Heights on a map, you can be sure their pastors will be teaching them about it this Sunday.
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@ALB
"Note to the Arab nations that attacked Israel, unprovoked, in 1967"
Israel actually started military actions by ambushing the Egyptian Air Force on Jun 5, the first day of the Six Day War. But it was justified as Egypt blocked Israeli ships from the Straights of Tiran and Israel had warned Egypt they would consider it an act of war. The first Arab Israeli war in 1948 was when the Arabs ambushed Israel.
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I have been to Golan Heights.
Absolutely a beautiful place as you drive through vineyards and other rural parts of Israel.
And from a vantage point, you can even see UN observers or forces who monitor peace.
I applaud POTUS.
Sure, it sets a precedent that in another 52 years, a future POTUS will say Crimea is Russia.
Who cares??
Come to think of it, in recent memory - no country has actually given up land it seized either from a war or as part of history.
Except the United States. We gave Afganistan back and as we did Iraq.
The issue with the Golan is Israel's historical ties, its spoils of war and of course its security.
On all three counts - Israel comes out ahead.
For this Mr Erakat to say that bloodshed will follow.
Whose blood is he talking about.
There has been no skirmishes in the Golan for many years - thanks to Israel, UN and of course, impotent Syria.
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@Neil Plenty of European countries gave up their colonies after 1948.
After WWII, keeping territory seized in war was defined as a war crime, in response to the Nazis. Even the Hague Conventions banned it, much earlier.
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@Neil We seized Afghanistan and Iraq?
@Alfred Then what about France and Poland seizing chunks of Germany after winning a costly defensive battle in WW2? You say Poland and France are criminal for siezing parts of Germany?
Syria is a failed state. So it is hard to imagine a scenario where the Golan Height would be returned or to what legitimate sovereign government they would be returned to. And let's not forget The Assad government, father not son, lost them in a war of aggression to Israeli in the first place in 1967. Israeli showed willingness to trade land for peace with an honest partner Egypt in the Sinai and when Syria was still a functioning state a similar deal was possible. But now all the Trump administration is doing in recognizing facts on the ground.
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@Todd
Syria is still there even after extensive USA efforts to destabilize it first with support of ISIS then with other rebel groups; Assad is no angel (no worse than USA presidents btw) but at least he is fighting and winning for all Syrians. Golan belongs to Syria and international laws conform it. One country and I repeat one country cannot decide what is just.
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@Turgut
It is kind of weird to quote international laws and Geneva Conventions when discussing the Golan when for the whole of history nations have formed through the process of invasion and land grabbing.
Israel has the odd luck of coming into being precisely when international law is developed to call a stop to land grabbing by one country from another.
Lucky the Americans got all their land grabs "grandfathered" in and are under no pressure to return land to Mexico, or Spain.
China invaded Tibet in 1958? I hope China will let Tibet be its own country, but Tibet is being colonized by ethnic Han, so I am not confident. Maybe Russia will give Finland back 1/3 of its land it seized during WWII. i doubt this will happen.
My sympathy is with the Israeli need to secure its borders. The Golan is integral to that security; it can't be given up.
President Trump is engaged in political theater, nothing more.
@Chuck You are mixing apples and oranges; there is no comparison between all those for numerous reasons; simply making excuses for land-grab iwill not cut it. Israel was ready to give up Golan recently and surely will do so under some other normal leadership. What they have now is comparable to North Korean ironman but under the disguise of sa-called democracy.
I have absolutely no doubt that Trump's purpose in this declaration is for his own, and/or Netanyahu's, political advantage.
That having been said, I have stood in a similar spot to that depicted in the accompanying photograph. I was on the Western summit of the Golan, overlooking the Jordan River and into Israel. The spot I was standing on contained one of a series of concrete gun emplacements from which Israeli farms were routinely shelled at a great cost of lives.
We are at a time when Syria, ruled by a despot, has killed tens of thousands of his own people who merely wanted his boot off their necks. Assad has brutally regained control of his country's territory with the aid of both Russia and Iran... and by the near total abrogation of U.S.will.
For Israel to cede one inch of the Golan would make their position literally indefensible. Iran remains in the area intolerably close to Israel's border. I would ask those who believe that Israel should relinquish this bit area to take a trip to the Golan and see for themselves the consequence of such a move. Withdrawal from Gaza brought forth Hamas, withdrawal from the Golan is an open invitation to Iran.
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@Phil Zaleon If you say Assad killed his own people in their civil war you can say the same of Lincoln. Lincoln killed thousands of his own people. Our government named their regime change plan in Syria as a civil war.
Look up the meaning of civil war.
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Assad started the war by silencing domestic political dissent, making the opposition literally “disappear”, by arresting, jailing, torture, until people started to flee or fight back.
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Plenty of people here are claiming that Israel can never give up the Golan.
However, both Ehud Barak and Netanyahu (!) engaged in serious negotiations with Syria to return the Golan, in return for a peace deal, including a total break of Syria with Iran.
If Syria stabilized, there's no reason why Israel couldn't pull out of Golan, leaving behind a few monitoring stations, and turning Golan into a carefully monitored Syrian owned de-militarized zone.
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@Alfred
In what future century do you think Syria will be anything close to "stabilized"?
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Exactly, Britain gave Hong Kong back to China. And that was a bit more than some vineyards and resorts...
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@Mark Shyres
Syrian gov has pretty much eliminated most of USA supported terrorists that were trying to break Syria in 3 (USA's goal for a pipeline) so Syria will be fine.
2
Politics makes the world go round, Benji and Trump are two of the many players in the game, who’ve chosen to sleep in the same bed, to whose benefit?
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Now that's a fine idea, clearly time-sensitive, constructive, contributing finely to the goal of world peace and prosperity. Mr. President, why did you wait so long to do this? Even the Buddhists will collectively support this initiative! Perhaps you'll win a Nobel Prize for such an important and valuable foreign policy decision.
Bravo!
@Dave
Because his buddy benji is about to go to jail for corruption so what better way then divert attention to Golan so Beni can escape his lengthy jail time.
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I think this may be the first time I actually agree with President Trump. The United States has refused to recognize many annexations by countries that invaded and seized territory. In the case of Israel, Israel was attacked and, in defending itself, captured the Golan Heights. If you have ever been to the Golan heights you’ll realize that it is a place where artillery can be set up and from where we it can be projected practically over the entire width of Israel. Israel appropriately and annexed the Golan heights, should keep it, and I’m glad to hear that we are going to recognize it.
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Peace is at hand. The new rule applies, "You get what you take". It's just a happy coincidence that this shift occurs just before Israeli elections. It has nothing to do with Netanyahu's legal difficulties. This will promote lasting peace agreements with all the major players that Israel is in conflict with. All of the Arab world will receive this with open arms, locked and loaded.
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The TIMES uses the word 'seizure' in a pejorative sense forgetting to remind the reader that Israel on June 5 1967 was faced with possible annihilation stirred up by Egypt's Nassar. The Syrians in an unprovoked attack along with Egypt and Jordan tried to destroy us. The Golan heights is a strategic asset that no nation after the events of 1967 would return to a regime that is dictatorial and unstable as witnessed by recent events. Let Americans be reminded who once owned most of the South Western US. Let's start calling Arizona, Texas and California 'seized' territory, which it most certainly was. That seizure of land from Mexico would certainly have invited UN condemnation.
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@Peretz For the one millionth time, it was Israel that launched the 1967 war, in response to a non-blockade of the Straits of Tiran, and a non-dangerous (according to Begin and Rabin) build up in Sinai.
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@Alfred
The country under discussion is Syria, not Egypt. Syria stayed out of the 6 Day War for the first four days. But Nasser claimed, falsely, that Egyptian forces had Israeli forces on the run and would soon be invading Tel Aviv. Accordingly, Syrian artillery began shelling northern Israel and Syrian jets attacked Israeli settlements in the Gallilee. So Syrian attacked Israel first.
1
@Peretz Irrelevant historical comparison with Texas. Israel has EVERY right to defend itself militarily, it has NO right to populate the Golan Heights and exploit the land forever. We Israelis have let power go to our heads, and used a phony excuse of "security" to aggrandize ourselves. Tump is doing this in order to help Benjamin Netanyahu win the elections...AND STAY OUT OF JAIL!
According to Pew Research, 26% of the US electorate identifies as white born-again/evangelical Christian, and 81% of that demographic voted for Trump in 2016.
https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/11/09/how-the-faithful-voted-a-preliminary-2016-analysis/
Trump is fortifying his hold on these voters by giving them the things they've been praying for for years and years. And they won't turn away from him even if he shoots someone in the middle of Fifth Avenue in broad daylight simply due to the fact that he recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
These people aren't as interested in the whatever truths the Mueller report might reveal as much as they are in today's news that their president sees the Golan as Israeli property. In their eyes god's will is being done through Trump.
So while the Democrats are trying to figure out whether a centre-leaning candidate or far left-leaning candidate could win a federal election, Trump is doubling down on the voters who are the easiest to figure out.
81% of 26% of the electorate is roughly 1 out of every 5 voters.
1 out of every 5 voters is almost guaranteed to vote for Trump. Let that sink in.
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@Andrew And if he has been impeached or is in prison it won't make a bit of difference to them.
3
After years of Syria shooting at Israeli border communities, Israel captured much of the Golan during the ‘67 War. Control of this land by Israel is vital for the security of Israeli citizens.
It should remain so.
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This can't be just about getting Netanyahu re-elected. Can someone tell us how far we are from the apocalypse? Surely we're getting closer to Armageddon and the tanks battles on the northern plains of Israel that precede the second coming. I'm trying to plan financially but need to know the time horizon.
8
@Michael Tyndall Oh, me too.
1
If only Israel were not there, the Golan heights would be paradise, just like Syria itself. It's not fair that children living in the Golan were deprived of the interesting life experiences of Syrian children. And that ISIS was deprived of a place in which it could express itself, as it should be free too. I'm glad we're finally talking about Israel's unthinkably wrong, unfair and evil occupation of the Golan.
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It is a reasonable assumption Trump did not even know what the Golan Heights were until he accidentally came upon something watching Fox/Faux news. Now, instead of looking for any type of peace process, he just comes in with a “game over” tweet. One can only stir up trouble in the world so many times before something breaks. And it is impossible to tell what will break.
12
As an American Jew, I blindly followed my fellow Jewish American friends in their hatred of Trump.
It was not until I went for a visit to Israel did I realize that he is the greatest friend that country has and that most of it citizens love the man. I applaud his policies regarding Israel and I believe that they are all in an effort to force their enemies to make peace at which time givebacks would be offered.
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@Steve... "he is the greatest friend that country has and that most of it citizens love the man."...If true, that does not speak well of Israel.
1
I hope Trump's 'policy announcement' doesn't invite more terrorism from ISIS to the US. If there is an uptick in that kind of terrorism, I will blame it squarely on Trump.
8
One shouldn’t be afraid of doing the right thing in the face of terrorists. Doing the right thing is always right.
1
We had an option. America had an option, we could have elected a woman so versed in worldwide diplomacy that in affect we would have had the proverbial leg up in these..what are usually called foreign policy endeavors.
So, what now ?..how do we not blame that collective of voters that i'm sure still don't care,..that again put these people in the offices of power ?
Will they care when their sons and daughters are fighting once again..this time in battles for an expansionist regime.
More than your take home, more than a bet that 'trickle down' will finally work..more than we are an energy exporter, more than
10
It should not be forgotten that the Golan Heights was won from Syria in a war they started with the expressed intent to wipe out Israel - an intent they have never renounced, and that the area is strategically highly significant.
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I don’t support either Trump or Bibi - personally I think each is and has been a disaster as leaders of their respective countries, and are likely to end up in prison. And I strongly object to Israel’s continuing occupation of the West Bank and its treatment of the Palestinians living in that territory.
With that said, I think on this rare occasion Trump has made a correct decision. If the Golan Heights were now part of Syrian territory, it would be the site of horrible atrocities, massacres, warfare and human suffering, just like the rest of Syria. Instead, under Israeli control it has become a peaceful, prosperous place with thriving tourism, agriculture and industry.
One can debate whether Israel was justified in occupying it in 1967, but if you’re going to have such a debate, you’d better do your homework and learn how the state we call “Syria” and its pre-1967 borders came into being. (Spoiler alert: those borders were no less of a historical coincidence than the current ones. See “Sykes-Picot agreement” and related historical arcana no one cares about anymore.) In any case, that history is becoming less and less relevant. The fact remains, Israel has controlled the Golan Heights for over 50 years, will continue to control it, and wouldn’t have any reasonable entity to give it back to even if doing that made any sense, which it doesn’t. US recognition is simply recognition of the obvious, nothing more. Better save your outrage for more important things.
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@Math Professor, while recognition of Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights may be simply an acknowledgment of reality, Trump gave away a critical bargaining chip that could have been helpful in extracting concessions from Israel in the development of a two-state solution.
I don't pretend to be an expert on the Middle East, but it seems to me that the situation is intractable enough without making generous moves for which you get nothing in return but Bibi's unfortunate re-election and the adoration of your Evangelical base.
52
The first time I stood in Israel, and was told, those are the Golan Heights.
I just said, “oh”.
They’re never in a million years going to give it up.
18
@Math Professor
I understand the logic of your position. But I'm not sure that recognition was necessary. Why not let sleeping dogs lie? There's one reason, and I believe, one reason only. It is a blatant attempt to influence the Israeli elections just in the same way that Netanyahu butted into ours. Reciprocity! Don't you think the timing is extraordinary?
26
One word. Kosovo. NATO had no problem taking territory from Serbia using force. I don't disagree with Kosovo, except maybe to say it really isn't a viable sovereign nation without future EU protection. But to say that some line is crossed is to ignore the fact that the line is crossed all the time, sometimes for good.
8
@pat o
Kosovo wasn't Serbian for few centuries now and even when it was theirs it was also owned by monetenegrins and albanian tribes too; Plus it was strictly serbian policies in the 1980s and 90s that lead to kosovos independence. 95% of Kosovo population was albanian and being cruel to them was a no go as surely they resisted.
2
Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, USA refused to recognized it.
Soviet Union annexed the Baltics States in 1940 and in 1945 again. USA never recognized it.
The People Republic of China annexed Tibet, USA refused to recognized it.
Irak annexed Kuwait in 1990. USA refused to recognized it.
And why? Because in those cases it was done by force or threat of use of force.
Israël annexed the Golan Heights in 1967 (officially in 1981)by force. So is that means that all the annexion done by force will be recognized by the USA? Do the policy toward Russia and the annexion of Crimea will change?
What it is interesting after the recognition of Jerusalem as capital of Israël without any concession coming from Israël now it is the Golan Heights. The Art of the Deal in action.
Now we are seing the peace plan of Trump-Kushner in action. Give everything to Israël with no concession in exchange.
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@Wilbray Thiffault Seems a little different, Syria lost that ground after attacking first and using the geography to attack a country, not by being the aggressor.
8
@Wilbray Thiffault
No it was because an adversary or competitor did it.
Through NATO we carved Kosovo out of Serbia using force. The US and Russia carved up Germany using force.
3
@Wilbray Thiffault No. You're wrong. The annexations you cite are not unrecognized only because they were accomplished by force or the threat of it. They are unrecognized because they are annexations done by an aggressor state.
Poland annexed Gdansk/Danzig and other parts of eastern Germany after WWII and the world recognized it. Do you know why? Because that land was taken as a result of a war started by Germany, which Germany lost.
Israel captured the Golan in a defensive war triggered by Arab states, including Syria, which those countries lost.
10
This past Sunday, Chief of Staff, Mick Mulvahey, admonished everybody to mostly ignore what Mr Trump says & tweets, instead we are to watch his actions. In fact, truer words have never come from the Trump-Pence White House.
That being the reality of T-P, there is absolutely no reason to believe that Trump is being truthful regarding Golan, the West Bank Or anything else.
There is, however, more than two full years of T-P 'bait & switch' . . .announcing programs and policies and then never fulfilling the promises. Examples: Drug rehab for the 'rust belt' and rural regions, increasing coal production, not touching Medicare (2020 budget reduce it by 18%), Mexico will pay for the wall, redux of NAFTA will increase auto jobs in USA, Carrier A/C will save jobs and not send them to Mexico, the tax plan will stimulate business and lead to >3% growth (as of this date, even Trump's officials acknowledge this will not happen). . .
Only fools believe that Trump is invested in these comments beyond a ham-handed approach to secure votes (from the fools - Shelly, are you reading?)
25
two points.
The heights do, in fact, abut Jordan in the sout of the heights
given that the two state solution under trump is been dead for quite a while can we assume that this was the plan all along? It is fairly that any Arab participation is probably off the table. and speaking of the peace plan, did Jarad ever really have one.
11
@Paul Jarad is not to have a plan, but rather to listen to the various countries and try to get them to agree to one. We can't make peace, we might facilitate it is all the players actually want peace.
2
Israel's plan was always to delay things while building colonies until the world gave up and recognized their annexation and conquest of the 1967 territories. There had never been any other plan. Anything else they've said is just window dressing for naive Westerners.
18
@vulcanalex All of the players actually do not want piece, other than a piece of Jerusalem, a piece of Tel Aviv...
This guy has no base foreign strategy. Does he want to pull back from America getting involved in other countries' business, or not? What does the USA get out of this new idea, if it's all about being transactional, then?
Trump wants to turn us into Russia. Or he wants to be the evangelicals' hero and foment WW III vs Islam, triggering the Apocalypse and the Second Coming.
No thanks, Donald.
38
A few things to remember:
1. Israel did not start the 1967 war. Egypt and Syria and Jordan did.
2. Before 1967 Syria used the Golan Heights to make attacks on Israel below.
3. After the 1967 war Israel asked for a negotiated peace. Egypt and Jordan eventually complied, but Syria still refuses after 52 years, and still threatens to do harm to Israel.
4.This has nothing to do with the Palestinians who are located on the West Bank and Gaza. The original PLO charter in 1964 made no claims on the West Bank and Gaza which were occupied by Jordan and Egypt. The PLO only made claims to Israel proper as bordered along the 1948 cease fire lines. They never claimed the Golan.
5. Israel returned land to Egypt (the Sinai) when they made peace.
6. In 1953 Jordan had illegally annexed the West Bank which it had conquered during the 1948 war which it helped initiate.
Jordan has since waived any claim to the West Bank.
7. Israel unilaterally turned over Gaza to the Palestinians in 2005 and since then has been hit by some 15,000 rockets fired from there. Neither Hamas nor the PA have agreed to any peace deal with Israel.
54
@Dave Israel started the 1967 war as a war of conquest. Not only was the war planned well in advance (it was almost started much earlier) but the occupation of the conquered territory was planned well in advance.
From 1948 to 1967, Israel continuously provoked Syria into military engagements.
15
@Drew Baloney. I was alive and old enough to understand what was going on then. The Arab states massed their armies on their borders with Israel, then Egypt shut down the Straits of Tiran, cutting off Israel's access to oil and other supplies, in violation of UN Security Council resolution 118, which was recognized as an act of war. Meanwhile, Syria was lobbing shells and rockets from the Golan into the Jordan Valley and across the north towards Haifa and Rosh haNikra.
So no, the 1967 war was not a war started by Israel.
You’re mistaken.
I visited the Golan Heights last year as a tourist (I am not Jewish). The land directly bordering Golan Heights was occupied by ISIS at the time. To whom would they cede the land?
I am not a fan of Israel necessarily (plenty of wrongs on both sides), but the land should be Israel’s for the sole reason of protecting Haifa from shelling.
20
@Russell ISIS is long gone (USA supported them with Saudia btw) and Syria is stabilizing so under international laws Israel has no business in Golan. Few years back they were negotiating for giving it up for true peace with Syria so I'm sure that will be what Israel has to do is give Golan up; keeping false hopes up with only hurt more the longer they keep Golan.
3
There are more prudent ways to protect from shelling
It almost makes one think Trump has been reading Machiavelli, but we all know that’s not possible. Perhaps he’s channeling the bad artist from the Weimar era.
8
“Every president has said, ‘Do that,’” Mr. Trump said of his Golan Heights declaration. “I’m the one that gets it done.”
On the contrary, no president has expressed support for Israel's claim of sovereignty of the Golan Heights - until Trump.
38
@Ken No President has "expressed" support for Israel's continued claim to the Golan Hts publicly, but other than Carter all have done so privately. No one in their right mind would cede such a strategic location as a matter of self-preservation, except those who wish for Israel's destruction.
4
“Every president has said, ‘Do that,’” Mr. Trump said of his Golan Heights declaration. “I’m the one that gets it done.”
Wait. HE's the decision-maker in this dispute ???
14
Truly disgusting how our current leaders are beholden to a hostile foreign state and are acting against our national interests.
22
DT and Netanyahu: birds of a feather. DT flouting international law, annexation of territory, to support Bibi and his re-election this April. Can we again expect Netanyahu to visit the USA to give speeches in support of the re-election of DT and the Republicans?
There seems to be no end to how low DT will stoop to keep his presidency.
20
We hope that Israel will be content with this and that there will be peace. For the Palestinians our advice has been they have better options than Jerusalem, which we view as nearly worthless real estate, for a new homeland.
More rubbish from the bellicose would-be dictator. The land belongs to Syria, and is recognized as such by the U.N., which has passed resolutions to the effect that the Zionists are in violation of international law. Whether Trump likes it or not, that is the situation. In his mind, if the U.S. recognizes some sort of sovereignty of the Z.E. over the area, then the U.N. does so also. Not so. The continued delusional behavior on the part of the "Commander in Chief" is real grounds for impeachment. There are, however, other factors which could bring impeachment about under different circumstances. The U.S. needs something other than authoritarian leadership.
18
And the UN, is the height of moral and ethical superiority??
2
He must first introduce himself to the United Nations and the Arab- Israeli-American Community before he sticks his fat face where it doesn't belong. Nicki Haley did more than she was required but DJT should go outside his small corral of fillies to get an upstanding Ambassador who needs no introduction to World Diplomacy.
We, the People, should recognize that this pretender's pretenses have persisted beyond the initial. His two years of scallawags who did none of the governmental duties expected of them had THEIR FREELOADING.
7
Besides helping his friend Netanyahu Trump’s call for US recognition of Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan also sends a message to Putin that America sees Russia’s ally Syria as only a rump state. In fact it is and this is why Israel’s sovereignty over this territory is de facto if not de jure.
WHY! What does the United States get out of this.
11
@Jack Frederick What the US gets out of it is irrelevant. It's what Trump and the kid get out of it.
8
@Jack Frederick The love and devotion of Netanyahu, a feather in the cap of the son-in-law in chief. Plus "he is the one who gets it done"!
Clearly, this man knows how to find an existing thorn in the Democrats’ side and drive it deeper. My guess is that this is almost entirely meant to divide the Democratic Party further over Israel.
12
Israel's powerful military could not be dislodged from Golan, so Trump's security excuse is redundant.
Recognising the Golan as belonging to Israel is an unnecessary provocation to Arabs in the region.
14
@Ambrose Unnecessary provocations are a standard business tactic. Think Tonkin Gulf.
4
The United States annexed Texas and seized a half-million square miles of territory from Mexico in 1848 and we are not giving it back.
The Golan Heights had been a bargaining chip with Syria for recognition and peace. But today there is effectively no Syria only various military alliances including those with Russia and Iran.
"International law" is that a punchline to a comedy routine? Oh, I see the Foreign Minister of Turkey is talking about international law, so I suppose it is a punchline; time to throw some Kurds under the bus.
18
The United States and Mexico signed a peace treaty in which territory was ceded by Mexico to the United States. There has never been any such treaty between Israel and Syria. Israel just declared a war of aggression on Syria one day in 1967, rolled its tanks into the area, and declared it theirs because they wanted it and apparently Israel's desires are all that matter in the world. Then they've made no attempt to find peace with Syria since.
Given that, Syria has a claim to the Golan Heights and if they attack Israel and seize it from Israel, in no way would any sensible person consider that the same as Syria taking Israeli territory. They would be reclaiming their own land.
6
The article suggests that Trump’s action will be used by Putin to justify seizing Crimea, as though Trump would object. Of course he won’t. He supports Putin’s ambitions. And the West Bank? That’s already part of the Israel wins, Palestine loses “peace plan” soon to be implemented by Jared Kushner, our brilliant Prince. What’s next? Taiwan? Kashmir?
11
@Mike Iker Tibet. The South China Sea. Venezuela goes to Brazil. Georgia is absorbed. Into Florida.
So what exactly does Trump get in return? Darling Ivanka's unending gratitude? Or the thanks of the best and brightest minds and intelligence to get Mr. Trump out of his legal bind?
6
I do not believe the US has the right to force this issue.
Why doesn't the US President concentrate what is needed in the USA?
40
This is from the same president who thought he could change Venezulas president by arbitrarily recognizing some other guy who had no actual political authority. Trump doesn't understand the differences between his desires and reality.
6
Why is he bringing this up? There are plenty of issues that are the US's business and this isn't one of them.
23
Why now? That's the question everyone should be asking.
18
Why am I thinking that this is simply a diversionary tactic for DT? To take the conversation away from his myriad of troubles?
26
I don't see how the President can declare for the world that Israel has control over the Golan Heights He can only say that Israel and the US believe that Israel has control of the Golan Heights. I don't think that the EU or Arab States would agree with that so it is only the opinion of the US and Israel.
27
@Chris
Israel has been in control since 1967, when they won it in a war the Syrians had no reason to fight/start other than the desire to destroy Israel. Do you know there were multiple attempts to negotiate with both the senior Assad, and darling Assad junior, to return it in exchange for total peace/quiet? They failed. Syria remains a hostile, war mongering enemy towards the Jewish state, and I think that unless something changes in the next 10 years, why would/should Israel contemplate returning it? How long does a country which was repeatedly shelled by the Assad government need to treat the land as a temporary occupation? The Syrian Druze who live there are proud Syrians, but they don't wish to live in Syria today the way it is. They are safe and very happy they weren't subjected to the brutal civil war, etc. that their brethren on the other side were.
5
We should assume that this is not a part of Jared's "Middle East Peace Plan?" Looks more like a cheap trick to help Trump's buddy Bibi win the election. The more the US acts unilaterally, without consultation with the UN and allies, the more isolated we become.
30
I can see a new war in our future. This time Russia will back Syria, and trump will leave the next administration with a heap of trouble in the Middle East.
So gift giving of him.
6
@David J Russia already backs Syria, and the war was left to Trump by Obama, this president freed the military to essentially win it.
1
You understand Trump cancelled the arms treaty with Russia because it was suspected that they may have been violating it, by building new nukes? And now both the US and Russia are building new nukes. Putin already has some that can reach Mar a Lago and the East Coast. Remember the arms race of the Cold War? Its back.
1
The Golan Heights is not USA territory. We have no statutory or other legal justification to say it belongs to Israel.
42
@John Warnock Same as we have no right to say it doesn't.
1
The Golan Heights is Israel's concern not ours.
They currently have control of it; I see no reason why the US
should recognize the authority of Israel to do what it is already doing without the blessing of the US. This is about Benjamin
Netanyahu sinking in the polls at home. The USA has no business in campaigning for him.
29
One giant leap towards the abyss for mankind.
21
The US is now attempting to influence Israel’s presidential election. The irony.
21
The strategic Golan will never go back to Syria as long as it is run by Assad and controlled by Iran/Hezbollah. Never.
10
Anyone who knows anything about the Golan topography understands that it is a high ground that would serve as a launching pad for an attack on Israel, were it given back to Syria. Also, Syria has a lot more land than Israel and the loss of this small area doesn't cause any hardship. The real hardship in Syria is the result of ruthless butchers, not Israel.
22
Foreign policy is neither moral nor immoral. It is amoral. The reason it is such is because only one question is truly relevant: What is in your nation’s best interest? I don’t know what Trump sees here or how it is a benefit to the United States. But here’s the reality of this situation: the Israelis are not about to relinquish control of the Golan Heights. It probably makes sense at this point to recognize the area as part of Israel. To say it’s part of Syria would be like trying to say Tibet isn’t part of China.
88
Did Jared whisper in Trumps ear. Did Trump know where the Golan Heights were before Jared whispered in his large ear?
One can see a great deal of non thinking went into this announcement. Jared once again has solved all of the world problems as long as they provide him money he turns a blind eye to everything but cash and power.
50
It was a fait accompli decades ago. This just recognizes the reality. Wars loss and gain territory for centuries.
14
Be that as it may, the US has no business supporting Netanyahu’s re-election campaign with this statement.
The official recognition of the Golan Heights as Israeli would be another peace bargaining chip gone at best, and incendiary at worst.
10
The heights should remain in Israeli hands for good reason, but to recognize the land as Israeli territory sets a dangerous precedent. The State of Israel has a bad habit of seizing territory and calling it its own under dubious circumstances. While this is a clean take, many, (not all) of the others in the West bank are not and this will be used to legitimize the recognition of that land grab.
Israel was established on land that had been settled and used for centuries, it was taken from an indigenous people without any input from them. The world supports its right to exist, but the circumstances of its inception cannot continue to be a precedent for its expansion.
24
@kamikrazee
No, Israel does not have a habit of seizing territory. It hasn't done so since 1973, 46 years ago. Israel was attacked by it's neighbors in 1967 and 1973. In each case Israel fought a defensive war but acquired additional territory to make it's territory defensible against future attacks. If Syria occupied the Golan, the could rain down rockets on any city in Israel with no viable defense. With Israel owning the Golan Heights, there will be continued (tense) peace.
8
@Robert Young - and I agree 100% with regards to the Golan, it should remain in Israeli hands, period. My point is that in recognizing it as a part of Israel proper, it might be used in the future as a rationalization or justification to recognize those lands in the West bank that have been seized, bulldozed and occupied by Israeli settlers as parts of Israel proper. The scenarios are no where near equal and the latter has been rightfully condemned, while the former, (the Golan), has been accepted as a necessity.
2
@Robert Young Israel was attacked too in 1948. This is when the Arabs who now call themselves Palestinians became refugees. Every time the neighbor or local Arabs attack, they lose more territory.
4
No fan of Trump, but good for him on this one. The territory was hard-won after Israel was attacked by its enemies, and the fact is that it has remained in its hands ever since. As for what the UN thinks about it ... who cares? Remember that the UN regularly denounces Israel alone for human-rights violations. while regularly promoting human rights violators to its commissions.
24
All it takes is a short drive through the Golan (because it is not a large territory - and it cannot be compared to Crimea) to see that it is ludicrous to ever expect Israel to retrogress the area to Syria.
15
Why? Russia has already built the Crimean bridge, should we tell Putin to accelerate his efforts to Russianize Crimea, so it can be officially recognized under the new “possession is 9/10 of the law” US foreign policy?
1
@Joe The Golan is about the size of Manhattan, Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn, and Staten Island combined.
2
“I wouldn’t even know about that”. All too true and I believe him. This person is grossly unfit for this job.
18
Way to go with the peace plan.
8
Once again proving a broken clock is right twice a day.
4
All the US money thrown at the Peace Process has been a waste because the Israeli Far Right interprets “Two State Solution” as “within” a single state just like South Africa did. There will be no peace on Netanyahu’s watch so I hope Israel regains respect.
6
Well, now we know why Trump has been against the United Nations.
5
Of course Trump would support Israel's illegal claim to The Golan Heights, that's where the oil fields are.
Israel will never voluntarily give up the Golan for that reason just like Putin will never surrender the Crimea because it's Russia's closest access to a warm-water port.
8
@Rob Vukovic There are absolutely zero “oil fields” on the Golan. Saying so does not make it so.
4
Another bright suggestion that the Golan become a demilitarized zone. There IS one already, but just like a UN troop division in the Sinai years ago failed to prevent the 1967 war, the UN force cannot stop Iranian military build ups nearby, just as UNIFIL cannot stop Hezbollah from entrenching itself in southern Lebanon. It's something, but cannot serve to stop the Arab countries from their continuous pursuit of destroying Israel.
Assad will never sign onto any peace treaty with Israel; does he strike anyone as anything but a war mongering, chemical weapon murderer? Israel has NO choice, until such time, iffy, in the future when a normal Syrian leader decides it's time to get real, let Israel live, and then Israel would return the western Golan. If it were like Canada, Jews could live in a Syria. Centuries back, there were plenty of Jews in Syria. Not anymore.
7
Up until now I was skeptical about the reports that Teflon Bibi was in real political trouble. But cajoling this out of Trump proves that he is, or at least thinks he is.
Coming up: Trump Tel Aviv Resort and Casino (and its affiliated tour company, Ivanka's Dead Sea Strolls).
12
It is amazing how adept Trump and Israel are at winning hearts around the globe ...I am sure we’re making a lot of new friends with this move.
10
When power balances change and some country or confederation of same carves off a portion of Israel, are the Israelis going to call Kings x and invoke the rules that require their territory be returned? Power balances do change. Especially if you are a tiny country surrounded, you might want to think of what happens when you play strongman. Just a word of advice.
5
About time.
Another reason to like Mr. Trump.
4
Presidents don't make policy decisions, they just execute them. We elected legislators for that role.
6
I wonder how much of Israel's continued grip on the Golan is economic--the lucrative Israeli wine business, from vineyards to wineries, is centered there. If the land were ceded back to Syria & Lebanon, the wineries would be shut down and demolished and the vineyards torn out or allowed to go fallow: alcohol of any kind is strictly forbidden in Islam. The wine industry would be seen by Imams as an abomination.
3
@Sandy
Sandy, it is about security. Read a little about the geography and military strategy. If Syrian weapons were place on the Golan Heights they could hit any city in Israel.
The Golan Heights is only 1 of 5 regions where Israeli wine is produced. Facts are facts. You make it sound like the Golan Heights is where Israel produces its wine.
Maybe Mueller should start an Israel probe next.
This is not normal, also interferes directly with Israeli elections.
12
Saying this as a Californian,
“Mexico, if you’re listening, take us back! Please!”
12
When Saddam Hussein seizes territory through military aggression in Kuwait or Russia does it in Crimea the US government stands on the principle of international law and demands such gains not be recognized as legitimate. Until now. Now the US government stands forthrightly on the principle of might makes right, but only when we or our friends exercise it. Well, at least we can be grateful for this clarification of the guidelines of American international relations. Trump has clarified them with bracing honesty, albeit not with moral or ethical consistency. We have met the enemy, and he is us.
373
@john riehle. The difference is that international law recognizes the distinction between acquiring territory by aggressive war, which are illustrated by your examples of Kuwait and Crimea, and taking land in repelling an invasion, which is how Israel acquired the Golan. The latter is permissible, otherwise there is no penalty to the failed aggressor - who is thereby encouraged to try again until success is achieved. It’s a pretty commonsensical approach.
In the case of the Golan, when you also consider that (1) for years before 1967, Syria used the heights to shell Israeli civilian centers in the Galilee and (2) for all practical purposes Syria now no longer exists as an autonomous state, independent from its Iranian masters whose aim is to destroy Israel, no state in the world would do what is demanded of Israel. Double standards?
42
Syria attacked Israel in 1967. And Lost. The Golan was a staging area
for Syrian aggression. Such Aggression should have consequences. Israel can not be playing "best two out of three Wins".
The Crimea did Not attack Russia.
33
@john riehle..well said..we have the most money and the biggest guns..therefore...
13
Try to consider the implications of supporting the notion that countries can enlarge their territory through military action?
If you're still ok with it--think about who has done this in the past 100 years and then go look in the mirror.
23
@Campion
They did not gain this land through military action but through response to milaitray action against them.
3
"Trump Wants U.S. to Recognize Israeli Sovereignty Over the Golan Heights"
On the surface, this seems to be the mother of all diversions. One could speculate that Mr. Trump must have kept that in his back pocket to be used when things get really ugly for him. A cynic may think that he must have got the hint that something truly noxious will be soon blowing his way and he is trying to divert media attention to a highly controversial issue.
Could it be that Mueller's report will be out soon? Could it be that his tax returns will soon become public? Could it be that Melania has filed for divorce and she is insisting that Mr. Trump's worth be based on numbers he has given to Deutsche Bank?
Of course, as usual there could be another reason. One cannot ignore the possibility that this is simply meant to show strong US support for Mr. Netanyahu who is now engaged in an uphill battle for getting re-elected. If that is the primary reason for Mr. Trump opening this can of worms, then one has wonder how critical Mr. Netanyahu has been (and is) to Mr. Trump's presidency. After all, it is atypical of a narcissist, who only cares about his own interest, to bring the wrath of entire UN upon himself just to help someone else.
14
@Eddie B.
"... it is atypical of a narcissist, who only cares about his own interest, to bring the wrath of entire UN upon himself just to help someone else."
It is TYPICAL of Trump to incite adversity. He is the chaos president, as he was the chaos businessman. Not only does he relish "fights," at least public ones, but he uses them as diversions from immediate issues for which he has no solutions. Witness his latest personal feud—with a dead man! Trump knows that throwing gasoline in McCain's funeral pyre will get everyone's attention, and get it off any substantive problems he faces.
6
This is against international law. Trump trashes international law too as he trashes the U.N., treaties and agreements. Most likely it's either because he has no idea why we have such laws or he does not care. He might as well also recognize that the Crimea belongs to Russia, and Tibet belongs to China, if he has not done so already.
Trump seems to only care about politics at home. This pronouncement will be popular in certain quarters.
We have been to the Golan. There is a substantial Israeli presence and settlement there. But this is land captured through war in 1967 and like the West Bank Gaza and East Jerusalem, is occupied territory until there is a peace agreement. Land captured and claimed through war is against international law. Remember World War 2? That is why. It seems that Israel as well does not feel it needs such laws or peace agreements, only facts on the ground and military power.This is what has disappointed and disillusioned about Israel over the last 52 years.
13
@Potter I agree and that does not make me anti-Jew. I dislike the Israeli policy regarding the Golan Heights. Being against the fraudulent Berlusconi did not make me anti Catholic.
3
@Potter Where does international law require a state that successfully repels invasion to return land seized to the aggressor? Making up special rules for Israel, something of a parlor game in any capitals and at the UN, only serves to weaken international law, not strengthen it.
12
@Charlie in NY Please see
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_of_conquest
"The completion of colonial conquest of much of the world (see the Scramble for Africa), the devastation of World War I and World War II, and the alignment of both the United States and the Soviet Union with the principle of self-determination led to the abandonment of the right of conquest in formal international law. The 1928 Kellogg–Briand Pact, the post-1945 Nuremberg Trials, the UN Charter, and the UN role in decolonization saw the progressive dismantling of this principle. Simultaneously, the UN Charter's guarantee of the "territorial integrity" of member states effectively froze out claims against prior conquests from this process."
In fact Israel, a country that should know better from history, is making up special rules for itself and expecting the world to agree.
4
Trump is playing pure politics here. Of course he knows that Netanyahu is in deep trouble in the upcoming Israeli elections, even though he denies it as he does collusion with the Russians in his illegitimate election and payments to Stormy Daniels.
This Administration, instead of working hard to seek a peaceful accord between Israel and the Palestinians, has sealed the door to peace by moving our embassy to Jerusalem and this latest political incursion.
Kushner has no idea what he's doing and has effectively sold Israel down the river. Trump will blame him when Israel is used as a proxy to go to war with Iran and all of its surrounding Arab states. Netanyahu is a fool to believe, if he does, that Trump would ever support Israel should hostilities flare. Israel is nothing more than a pawn to him on a binary political playing field. - no money and power for Trump, no support. His words are worthless.
13
@RealTRUTH, remember though that more than one Israeli company helped him get elected. Psy-Group worked with Cambridge Analytica on the massive social media disinformation campaign. That company is well connected as is Black Cube, a dirty tricks company. This as well as moving the embassy is another form of payback for helping swing the election to Trump. Now the world will pay for it with our blood and higher oil prices when the inevitable conflagration erupts. Treason? It meets the definition of giving "aid and comfort" to our enemies who conspired to defraud the American people from a fair election.
1
Huge ignorance here by the author as well as most posters here. The problems in many parts of the Middle East can be traced back to the end of WW1 and the break up of the Ottoman Empire. It was left up to the British and French (victors in war) to carve up the Middle East and create new states. Unfortunately many borders were created without taking into account both ethnicity and geography. This has led to conflict in the region for the past 100 years.
In the case of the Golan Heights, Syria had attacked on countless occasions Israeli towns in the valley below before 1967. There were also water diversions by Syria of Israels only source of fresh water (there are now desalination plants to supplement the fresh water requirements, particularly for agriculture).
There are many many borders around the world that have changed due to war. That's one of the main reasons countries fear going to war - they may actually lose. And when you lose a war (as the Arabs have THREE TIMES) there is a price to pay, in this case, the loss of territory, which, if the British and French in 1921 had had half a brain, would have incorporated Golan into the British Mandate of the time.
27
The status quo has held just fine for the past fifty some years, preventing Syria from using that high ground to launch missiles into Israel.
That said, rockets today can be launched from anywhere, to anywhere, so what's the point?
Leaving things as they have been allows for an eventual peace treaty, annexation does not. Maintaining status quo does not diminish Israel's ability to protect their nation, annexation brings potential for blowback, not only from Syria, but from Arabs in general and I will add Russia to the mix: they are a staunch supporter of Syria and will not take Trump's move lightly.
Evangelicals will be elated, their Armageddon clock hands have moved ever closer to midnight.
14
Trump knows nothing of the history of Palestine, the 1967 War and the 1973 War. The Golan Heights belong to Syria. What is coming out of his mouth is Jared-Speak, Bolton-speak and Pompeo-Speak, and maybe Abrams-Speak. I reject this reckless use of diplomatic imperialism. Trump does not have a mandate and neither do the Israelis. All it does is cement the likelihood of another major war in the Middle East, where nothing is forgotten and where Americans know nothing.
17
@Bill B.
Syria attacked israel in 67 and 73. Israel defended itself and pushed the invaders back to take the Golan Heights, because prior to launching full scale war, the Syrians would fire rockets at civilians. So the Syrians lost this strategic regions because of THEIR AGGRESSION. The Israelis can NEVER return this strategic parcel to Syria. Doing so would entice more Arab aggression because it would greatly increase their chance of success. Standing firm against the Arabs and letting them know That Israel is not going anywhere could force the Arabs to back off from their murderous intentions towards Israel. Force, not reason appears to be the only thing they respect.
3
Trump’s recognition of Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights marks a diplomatic coup for Netanyahu, two weeks ahead of a tight election, boosting his chance of winning. Soon the administration might also recognise the Israeli annexation of the West Bank.
It is obvious that the goal of Trump’s one-sided Mideast policy is not the Arab-Israeli peace but a bolstering of Netanyahu’s hopes to cement his grip on power.
The 1967 UN Security Council Resolution 242 – after Israel captured the Golan Heights – stressed the “inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by war and the need to work for a just and lasting peace in which every state in the area can live in security”. Trump broke the norm, allowing Putin to justify his landgrab in Crimea.
Apparently there had been a string of unsuccessful attempts to negotiate a peaceful solution to the fate of the Golan Heights – most recently in 2010 when the Obama administration and Netanyahu engaged in secret talks with the Syrian dictator, Bashar al-Assad, on a peace treaty involving Israeli withdrawal. But that effort broke down, following the outbreak of the Arab Spring uprising in Syria, and Assad’s decision to crush the opposition by slaughtering protesters in 2011.
3
Distract, distract, distract. There's still a report coming from the guy who didn't get any votes in the last election. And trump must like Mueller because he's a war hero who didn't get captured...but he did get wounded.... Probably another disqualifying characteristic. I can't wait for November 3, 2020.
6
Wise move. Was there just last year, and it's notable how Iran sought to use the Syrian war to move some its forces near Golan. (Of course Israel was wise to their machinations.) But it would be utterly foolhardy to consider in any way rewarding Bashar Al-Assad with the Golan Heights, lost by Syria in a legitimate Israeli defense against an unprovoked attack. Such attacks would be normative again were this high ground given to Syria. The Golan Heights belong to Israel, and recognizing that is the right thing to do relative to Israel's security and relative to Assad's Syria. Thankful for this decision.
17
Madman theory at work. Make sure to vote!
4
@I Have Major Concerns Oh, we will. You can count on it.
Trump or no Trump, this is just common sense. The Golan Heights are Israeli territory and have been for more than 50 years. You might as well accept it and recognize it.
What amazes me, however, is that Turkey's take over of part of Cyprus has been accepted by the entire world as a de facto Turkish territory.
Why so much anti-Israeli hate?
15
@Rose M
I and the public know
What all schoolchildren learn,
Those to whom evil is done
Do evil in return
- Auden
8
@Rose M because they are wrong, wrong, wrong about this and the world will pay.
5
I wish President Trump would stop talking and keep on giving us common-sense policies like this decision. Israel will never give up the Golan Heights, which it conquered in a defensive war. This removes one more stumbling block from negotiations and allows the real issues to remain on the table
9
Good. It's about time.
10
Trump works to re-ignite Middle East war, with a big assist from Netanyahu. President Pathological may have no understanding of what he's doing, yet doing it, he is. I oppose President Menace.
6
Oh yes. let's get involved in starting another war. If you want to be an isolationist, maybe you should start here.
5
And, Mr. Trump, the pending Netanyahu indictments on bribery and fraud are just a “witchhunt”—
As you seek to distract with the Golan Heights.
And you’ll decide it, with your cell phone tweeting finger.
4
Hope he does
1
No. The USA, ourselves, should take total control of the golan heights from Israel. Build a huge air, drone, and cyber based there and stick it to the over emboldened Iranians and Russia.
Told you so !
Fully agree with you ! It was truly US which defeated Arabs in any war against Israel . Without unstinted support with sophisticated weapons and material support including billions of dollars Israel will not be in a position to boast about such victories. USA should occupy Golan Heights for a permanent base there for prompt response to any issue in the area instead of depending on gulf states .
Study the historical significance of Golan Heights as it relates to Israel and Syria in this fascinating book:
"Israel History Maps: 3000 Years of Geographic Chronology of Jewish Sovereignty in the Holy Land"
https://www.amazon.com/Israel-History-Maps-Geographic-Sovereignty/dp/1946575984/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=israel+history+maps&qid=1553197957&s=gateway&sr=8-1
2
President Trump has proven to be the most pro-Israel President in American history. Soon Democrat Jews will show some appreciation for what the Republican President is doing to make America and Israel strong.
3
Surely this is satire.
1
Let us deal with facts .
The Syrian borders were drawn by Mr. Sykes and Monsieur Picot , respectively a British and a French colonial administrators , in a manner to suit the British and French interests . It had no reference to any other geographic or human practicality .
From Syria's independence from France in October 1945 , and for about 22 years until June 1967 , the Golan was a thinly populated part of Syria , utilized essentially to attack Israel incessantly .
Given the heights overlooking the Israeli Jordan river valley , the Syrians felt arrogantly secure to be belligerent regularly . Dozens of Israelis died from Syrian bombardments .
In June 1967 , though Israel and Syria had no territorial dispute of any sort , Syria attacked and invaded Israel .
The resulting war led to the Israeli conquest of the Golan .
So , for the last 52 years , the Golan Heights have been peaceful under Israeli control . It is today as much a beautiful , prosperous and integral part of Israel as Texas is part of the USA .
And continuing this analogy , the Syrians will likely get it back a day after the Mexicans get back Texas......
9
About time.... “the Arab world will never make its peace with a Jewish state until convinced by Jewish military strength and strategic superiority that such a state can never be prevented or removed by force of arms” Jabotinsky “Iron Wall” 1920
9
Study the historical significance of Golan Heights as it relates to Israel in this fascinating book:
"Israel History Maps: 3000 Years of Geographic Chronology of Jewish Sovereignty in the Holy Land"
https://www.amazon.com/Israel-History-Maps-Geographic-Sovereignty/dp/1946575984/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=israel+history+maps&qid=1553202243&s=gateway&sr=8-1
2
Madness. George HW Bush went to war because Saddam Hussein violated Kuwait's sovereignty. Now Trump has legitimised this taking of land by force. All to get Bibi re-elected.
7
Wow, there sure are some terribly skewed (=wrong) interpretations of history going on here!
5
About time. The heights tower over portions of Israel and so it must be retained by Israel for obvious reasons.
7
Why can't this toad keep his nose out of other countrie's business?
The cynic in me suspects that Robert Mueller's report is imminent, and this is just another deliberate distraction to redirect the medias focus.
4
@Uncle Fester Beacuse Bibi controls him and by doing this he is distracting attention from Israeli courts that are trying to send bibi to jail for corruption. Hmmm, instead of jail he is trying to win again on 'fake' Trump present. Everything that Bush did will be annulled once he is out of office.
1
I am digusted by the huge amounts of leverage the Israeli government has over US government. While Trump tweets this breakaway from decades long US foreign policy, in the wings were waiting Netanyahu and Pompeo in hosting a press conference in Israel, awaiting Trump's tweet. This is toxic politics.
This isn't antisemitism. I am just pointing out another obvious instance where I, part of the silent majority, is upset at our government upholding Israel's interests, above all else.
29
For decades Syria fired guns on Israeli farmers from the Golan Heights.
It is insane to insist that they should be returned to Syria.
They lost it in a war they started against Israel and it is lost territory never to be returned.
23
Yeah, and who cares about world opinion, Security Council resolutions, and decades of U.S. policy, right? Let’s just keep stirring the pot over there on behalf of a budding theocracy which increasing violates principles that we Americans have long held dear...
8
"Israel seized the Golan Heights from Syria in 1967...."
Seized, taken; either is fine.
So why do you have "won" on the homepage? Figure for every one person who actually reads the story 100 won't but will "learn" that Israel "won" it?
7
Trump couldn’t find the United States on a world map, let alone the Golan Heights.
26
If only the U.N would make one tenth of as much noise about Crimea as it does about Golan. Israel will never give back the high altitude platform used by Syria to send missiles into Israel. Not at least unless it can get reliable security guaranties from Syria, which is unlikely to happen in my yet to be conceived great great grandchildren's lifetime. Deal with it.
22
@Upstate Dave Seizing the Golan in the name of secirity is one thing. Claiming title and allowing twelve thousand "settlers" to mve in and usurp the homes and lands of Syrians is another.
5
@Upstate Dave
I agree with you Dave. This strategic high-elevation ground overlooking settlements and towns in Israel was frequently used by Syria since 1948 and before to fire long range artillery and missiles against civilians with devastating effect until the area was taken by Israel in hand to hand combat in 1967. It is a matter of national security for Israel to retain this territory for its real and long term defense. Syria was too often militarily aggressive from there. It lost the fight for and so lost this militarily strategic area with practically no prior civilian population. Welcome to the real world of how national boundaries in this world have been formed since time imemmorial. The West Bank with its dense civilian populations is a different issue altogether and should have been released by Israel sometime after the six-day war back to the Palestinians. The Middle East would most likely have been a far less long term conflicted area had this happened back then, and this would have most likely happened had Yitzhak Rabin not been assassinated in 1995.
2
@Ray hmm... so when Syria had the Golan Heights they LOST to Israel, then when Israel had the Heights Syria LOST again. Doesn't seem to have been much of a strategic advantage to Syria. Maybe, just maybe the issue is actually control of the sources of the Jordan River?
1
I would like to hear what Trump could manage to say in 5 mi it's about the Golan Heights. How much does he actually know?
21
@Jean He would need more than 5 minutes just to locate this region (or any country in the middle east) on a map.
2
Ooookaaay...
So how about if Spain decided that it wanted Puerto Rico back? Or what would happen to American Samoa? Or how about if Trump decides he wants the 1/3 of Berlin again.
How would we feel if a foreign power decided that Mexico really did have rights to part of Texas...that would surely upset the wall and maybe THAT would be a real national security issue.
Fact of the matter is with the US support of Israel, no matter who is in charge there, we don't have any business in THEIR business. Aside from that, at the moment, it is questionable whether Netanyahu is not engaged in criminal acts. Also, if Israel is going to claim the Palestinians have no rights to land in Israel, how can they claim that they have the rights to land that apparently belonged to Syria?
The other complication is that if the US supports Israel, they are going against Syria, which at this juncture is the godchild of Russia.
Too much of a mess, and the US should stay out of it. But DJT is looking for a good battle to keep those tank factories that he claims HE brought back to life in the US manufacturing world running full steam ahead. A little bit of war would also serve as a little bit of distraction from the ever-growing legal baggage that is clinging to him and his administration.
37
@Mountain Dragonfly
It's in our best interest as a previous Democracy (pre-Trump) to support the only democratic state amidst a sea of hostile oppressive religious states in the Middle East. Without Israel there would be no hope for freedom in the region - an ideal that America has always championed.
Aside from that, the moral and ethical survival of Israel as a sanctuary State for the oppressed Jews of the world is essential. They have suffered and been persecuted for thousands of years - no more!
5
@RealTRUTH
You seem to forget there is no hope for freedom for millions of people in Israel right now who reside in the Gaza Strip, West Bank, and east Jerusalem. Only the "right kind" of Israelis have actual freedom in that country.
4
@Still Waiting for a NBA Title
I hadn't forgotten...The Gaza Strip, West Bank and East Jerusalem are whole other really significant and problematic issues. Thank YOU for commenting on it, though...to remind everyone that you can support the Jewish State of Israel, and at the same time find issue with some of their policies. I hope the rest of the nations of the world are as generous in how they view the last 2 1/2 years of the US actions.
Another major policy shift by tweet, up next - the walk-back.
19
Syria is a failed state and lost its own civil war , it will be divided among the victors
14
@Zion Well, Syria was created out of whole cloth by the Paris Treaty of 1922 as were all the nations in what is euphemistically termed the Middle East, and this includes the area now called Israel and then called Palestine and parceled to Britain.
1
Please tell me again what was factually inaccurate about anything Representative Omar said. This type of thing is precisely what she was talking about. Certainly no benefit here for the American people.
57
@Fred
No benefit for the American people? That's a very short-sighted statement. What about Saudi Arabia's lobbying the US? Or is "that type of thing" okay by you?
5
@Fred
You're right. Recognizing reality, as the President did in this case, is of no benefit to anyone.
2
I'm noticing quite a bit of false equivalence in some of the comments. Crimea and the Golan are not equivalent examples of territorial overreach. The former was annexed for political reasons, the latter for existential ones. Unlike Israel, when Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula, it was in no imminent threat of being attacked by Ukraine. That is a big important difference!
US administrations come and go--Trumpian declarations notwithstanding-- but the facts on the ground remain the same: Israel will be in possession of the Golan Heights until there is a viable treaty that guarantees its security from bad actors like Hezbollah and Iran.
14
@Facts on the Ground, Security is a concern. To hold a position to guarantee awaiting a treaty is vastly different from simply seizing the area, claiming title and resettling "Israelis" (who do not include anyone Arab ancestry according to the rabbis and Netenyahu). Both the situation in Crimea and the Golan are political, like it or not, and very ugly recidivist politics.
1
@Facts on the Ground
Gonna take more than a treaty to do that. Israel signed the Oslo accords in 1993 and has endured thousands of deaths as a result. Israel doesn't have a peace treaty with Syria but since 1973 the Golan has been far more quiet than the areas ceded at Oslo. Treaties per se don't mean diddly.
2
I’m going to make an analogy to clarify my point a bit further. India and Pakistan are in constant conflict over the Kashmiri territory. This is not because of politics but because of geo-strategic and ethnic considerations (Hindu vs. Muslim). Would you prefer that Israel and Syria have the same perpetual conflict as the Indians and Pakistanis? Like it or not, the Golan in Israeli hands keeps the peace on the Syrian border and helps keep the destabilized country of Syria and its supporters in Iran in check. Those are the facts on the ground.
2
Wonder how much Israeli money is invested in Trump or Kushner properties?
A cursory search indicates that several Israeli banks (Bank Hapoalin (sp?) and Bank Leumi and an influential Israeli investment family (Steimetz sp?) have tens of millions of loans in Kushner and Trump properties.
But recognizing the Golan? Jerusalem? That's gotta be worth more than $10 of millions.
Maybe the Donald has a handshake with Benny to provide him with non-extradition residency in Israel should the need arise?
Ok, probably not. But its a worthy conspiracy for the man who doubted President Obama's citizenship.
30
@TDurk Now you understand why the Trump(s) use private (read :off records) means of communication with certain world leaders...!
1
Trump world: Might makes right. The message to all those who want to grab land is that the US won't get in your way.
19
It's just so good to have a president who supports the only free Democracy in the Middle East instead of showing contempt for it as our last president did.
18
@James Hoffa - a democracy where half the population can't vote or have property rights....
6
I am not a fan of Netanyahu and disagree with most everything Trump does, However, the Golan Heights is critical to Israel's security. The West Bank is an entirely another matter. Don't conflate the two.
11
Ok with me.
NOT ONE comment here notes that Syria attacked Israel twice via the Golan Heights or that Israel took it in defense the first time and held onto it the second.
The situation is nothing like Crimea or Eastern Ukraine.
Good for Israel. And however he did it, Trump did something right.
16
Honor among thieves? Look elsewhere.
2
Does anyone remember what the Syrians were doing up there on the Golan Heights before Israel took it over? Lobbing down rockets and shooting from their elevated vantage point. Now why should Israel return control of that perch to people who are surely going to be doing the same thing again one day if given the chance. No sane country would do that. Why is the world asking Israel to. I don't agree with anything Trump does, so this may be a one-off of sanity for him.
20
@Max Green Why do you think the Syrians had a military presence on the Golan Heights in 1973? What could possibly have preceded that date?
3
@Bill B. - Excellent question! The actual causes of the Golan Heights "6-day War" of 1967 which Israel goes all the way back to 1948 and especially 1956 with the Suez Canal crisis.
Come on people. Everyone knows who Yahweh deeded the Levant to. It says so right there in that inerrant Bronze Age sacred text - Old Testament.
12
This is an obvious GOP effort to promote further division among Democrats with respect to Israel policy issues. Congress should reject this plan as unacceptable on its face!
8
Chid: "I'm being beat up at school every day by an awful bully."
Parent: "Well, hang in there, dear. Just a few more months and school will be out. Won't that be wonderful!"
We either have a democracy, and a nation of laws, or we don't. When we allow tyrants who have broken the law to remain in power so their misinformed and corrupt supporters won't be ruffled, well, we're not in Kansas anymore...
5
Remember that Trump is also suing SNL for alledgelly making fun of him.
5
Bibi will do anything and everything to stay in power. It should be glaringly obvious to all that this is a Bibi move timed for the election in April.
It should be equally obvious, however, that Israel has no plan to hand back a strategically valuable piece of land to foes sworn to kill them. Nor should they.
So essentially an empty gesture, to boost Bibi. I sure hope that Trump got something in return, and that that something is a commitment from Bibi to consider a multinationally-forged peace plan.
9
I am sensing that Trump's rating within the Evangelical community dipped from 100% to about 99.9% and he wants to bring it back up?
That aside, the world's opinion of both Israel and Trump cannot be any lower - both for justifiable reasons. Thus, a continuing support of Israel by the other bottom dweller only means one thing - even lesser support for that country after Trump's ouster. Is that one reason why vehemently pro-Israeli advocates are becoming increasingly afraid of a Democrat being elected to the White House?
And while Trump is at it, he may well declare Israel to be the master of all of the Middle East. Why not voice the opinion of the Evangelical Christian community while he is at it ?
6
@Plato That's the problem with Christianity so many translations of Bible that everyone now has their own sect and Bible; hmm they don't even read it as if they did they would not eat pork which is forbidden in original Christian books.
1
Yes, please— let’s throw, nah pour steadily pure gasoline on a deep abiding fire that has been burning for centuries in that area!
USA is going to recognize a disputed territory between Israel and Syria, which is not recognized internationally... why?
And most importantly, why now?
When Bibi is up for election soon, and DT’s mired in every shade of scandal.
This is the most important question to tackle?
5
HARD TALK
If US allows Israel declare sovereignity over golan heights, All resistance to Annexation of Crimea falls apart.
That has been said
This is what Putin wants from Trump and Netanyahu.
When the times come we will all remember who is on our side , who is on Putin side.
3
"Trump wants… ."
No. Whatever it is. . . NO!
4
Trump wants Florida in 2020. Period.
2
The story fails to provide any historical or geographic context. The Golan Heights is a ridge between Israel and Syria, with immense military significance.
When Syria held the Heights, it regularly rained down ammunition on the Israeli occupants below. During the 67 war, when Syria invaded Israel in an attempt to annihilate it, Israel managed to drive the them from their bunkers atop the Golan Heights.
If you were Israel, would you give back this strategic military location to the country that used it to try to destroy you?
13
As much as I hate Trump and his coterie, I think that Israel's map should be redrawn to include the Golan Heights forever.
12
@JAB yes, and when it is turned into a burned shell of what it once was. Will they take the blame or will it be Hillary's fault?
Better Israel control the Golan Heights than the Syrians. The latter have almost destroyed themselves with a civil war that allowed ISIS to become a force in the Middle East and whose President, Bashar al-Assad, attacked his own people with gas.
The decision's not even close.
11
"The United Nations Security Council has declared that Israel must withdraw from territory acquired by force."
Zzzzzzzz. Wake me up when the UN Security Council demands that Poland return the western part of their country to Germany which they also took by force. Or when Turkey is ordered to return Anatolia to the Greeks which they conquered by force. Or when the US has to return the entire southwest to Mexico which was also taken by force. Or when all of North Africa is returned to the Berbers by the Arabs who conquered these lands by force. Get the idea?
11
This had nothing to do with Israel and everything to do with Trump, as are all of his decisions.
3
In this case, why all the fuss about Russia annexing the Crimea?
Maybe we should ride the bandwagon and annex Canada.
International law! What's that? We have the bigger guns. That settles it.
8
Are you sure the picture is looking towards Syria or is it towards Israel?
Seized? Just becasue, No - it was becasue Syria was firing on Israeli farmers with in the green line for years.
7
So
Future Middle East conflicts seeded.
3
The Golan does not abut Jordan, it abuts Syria
2
Will America's Jewish people fall for Trump's blatant trade-off for polluting our environment, slashing Medicare and Medicaid to pay for tax cuts for the rich, cutting social services and food for the poor, and selling machine guns to the masses?
And if Jewish people are still happy about Trump's ugly trade-off, how do they feel about his obvious pandering to neo-Nazis and white nationalists who want Jewish people eradicated from the face of the earth?
40
Trump wants to be emperor of the world and dressed in purple. Trump blamed the Jews in his speeches and diatribes, but he obviously hates the other residents of the area more. It's difficult to determine who Trump hates most of all...apparently it depends on what day it is.
It's crossed my mind many times how often has Israel been approached to have a U.S. Military base there? After all, Israel is surrounded by countries who aren't fond of them. Israelis obviously believe that would really create an upheaval in the region.
3
The last paragraph of this article is one of the most important in that it reveals the duplicity of Israel's enemies. The article quotes the Turkish foreign minister as saying in his criticism of Israel that "The territorial integrity of states is the most important principle of international law". Talk about hypocrisy! In 1974, Turkey invaded Cyprus, an independent state, resulting in the displacement of nearly 200,000 Greek Cypriots. Turkey has illegally occupied more than one third of Cyprus in blatant violation of its territorial integrity - and international law - ever since. Many of the other countries or groups that rush to condemn Israel and the Trump administration, such as Syria and the Palestinians, also have appalling records of aggression and repression. Their statements must be viewed as unfounded, hypocritical attacks on the one free and democratic state in the Middle East and the courageous American administration that supports it.
32
Short on arguments ....
1
@Americanguy. Define “Democracy”. Enough said
1
Um, the point is that trump’s encouraging exactly that kind of action and claim. I might add that he’s not exactly had the slightest interest in criticizing Turkey on a blessed thing, except for noticing that his Saudi bros hacked up a reporter working peacefully in their country.
1
My mother once said you shouldn't judge people by who they are love with, because love is irrational, but by their friends, which involves choice. In that context, the unholy alliance between Netanyahu and Trump and their circle of preferred dictators and thugs, puts both of them in the worst light.
It's not surprising to see dominion theology enthusiast, Pompeo, grinning in accord, highlighting another completely cynical alliance between the Israeli right wing and right wing US evangelicals, where each party believes they are using the other and they're both right.
The whole thing is extremely distasteful and disastrous for any real efforts to come up with a peaceful solution to any situation in the ME, and the idea that the compromised Kushner is capable of any such thing is preposterous.
29
@pixilated
Kushner is by far not the sharpest tool in the tool box, lucky to have had a father who provided the entree to Harvard. Super Jared isn't going to come up with anything.
3
No end to the damage done by the Trump Administration and of course by Mr. Trump personally. As I usually note: why is Mr. Trump USA president and not in jail where he belongs?
39
Yet more gas lighting from our President to deflect from a) the attention being given to inane remarks about McCain; b) the legal troubles he is in; c) the fact that his policies are slowly but surely working against the people he was elected to serve.
26
Senator Lindsey Graham, applauded Mr. Trump’s decision, calling it “strategically wise and overall awesome.”
Couldn't say it any better than that.
9
This is a naked ploy to prop up Netanyahu in the coming elections. Trump has given his fellow corrupt leader two big prizes without a hint of what Israel should do to arrive at some sort of peace. Elections have consequences and we are seeing them from savage de-regulations, to tearing down treaties, to give-away to the wealthy, to endangering the climate, to creating further problems in the Middle East. When he is through, there will be one single plate left in the China shop.
33
Trump has gone off the rails in an unprecedented way this past week even by his standards. For one the unrelenting fight he continues to have with a dead man really shows what a childish, obnoxious and dishonorable man he truly is. Next to cap off the week, he wants to launch the Middle East into greater chaos with this move. His biased and uncalculated so called “policies”, if we can call them that, have lost the United States it’s role as mediator in the Israeli Palestinian conflict; a role that appears to be irrevocably lost due to this novice’s tweets and his insistence on playing favorites with Netanyahu’s right wing psychoness. May God save us from this so called “President”.
24
This is good news. Israel was attacked (1974) and provoked for years by Syria. The Golan should stay in Israel's hands. The Middle East will be safer and Israeli citizens will be protected.
15
You must remember it was the Arabs that invaded Israel in the beginning back in the 40's and took land away from it. All Israel is doing is reclaiming some land, and the U.S. is recognizing it.
19
@manicmushroomer I looked up the partition map for 1947, I don't see that the Golan Heights was a part of the Israel portion. How can they be reclaiming land that was never designated as part of Israel?
4
The land doesn’t belong to Israel
1
It is time for the international community to stand up to this low-less guy. Incredible!
12
It's only meaningful as another shiny object that Trump has tossed out for the sole purpose of getting Democrats and independents into a lather. Following their outrage, he will refresh his accusations of Israel hatred predictably followed by more charges of antisemitism. The Israelis will never give up Golan to the Syrians no matter what the U.S. says one way or the other.
3
First Jerusalem and now the Golan.
Assuming this Golan proposal aligns with the overall strategy of his senior Middle East advisor Jared Kushner, then the Kushner plan is certainly becoming discernible "give Israel anything they ask for".
12
Anti-Israeli's in the US and Arabs point to the UN resolution when arguing against Israel and the Golan Heights.
Anti-Israeli's in the US and Arabs ignore(d) the UN resolution that established Israel and Palestine 70+ years ago. In fact the Arabs attacked Israel the very next day.
And again and again. And during the defense of their very existence, Israel makes claim, for defensive purposes, a piece of land, won fair and square in a war. Like every other country on the planet!
12
Trump clearly is all-in with Bibi Netanyahu and is trying to put his "finger on the scale" of the election there next month. By violating the U.N. resolutions, Trump is also setting the stage for the new anti-Iran axis between Israel, the U.S. and Saudi Arabia--three countries with reckless autocratic leaders all seeking to overthrown the regime in Tehran. We can only hope that Netanyahu will be defeated and sanity will prevail before the simmering Muslim civil war being fought in Yemen engulfs the entire region.
14
Under the current amended-by-tweet international law, Israel should just go ahead and take South Lebanon and call it Israel - there's Hezbollah there who "may attack Israel". In fact, why not take Sinai too and make it Israel - you never know, there's some Jihadis there who "might attack Israel." Actually, why not take the entire region since there's too many hostile Arabs who "might attack Israel"?
This nonsense will of course be affirmed in an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote.
13
I think the whole thing with the Golan Heights and Genie Oil look for the connection between Rupert Murdoch and Trump they are both friends and Rupert Murdoch runs Fox News which Trump really likes.
4
Israel has legitimate security concerns with regard to the Golan Heights? But why does it have to be either/or? Why not negotiate the Golan as a demilitarized zone, monitored by UN peacekeepers?
11
@kingfisher1950 Why not? Well, that would require mature, humanitarian-minded statesmen to sit down and - heaven forbid - negotiate for the good of all. Those days are over. All sarcasm aside, your idea is a very excellent one.
2
@kingfisher1950, Been there; done that. During the Suez crisis of 1956, Egypt nationalized the Suez Canal and blockaded the Strait of Tiran, an entrance to Israeli territory. Both were acts of war against Israel. Israel, together, with France and Britain fought this. The UN placed a force of UN peacekeepers on the Sinai Peninsula to separate Egypt from Israel. But in 1967, Egypt ordered these UN peacekeepers out, and the UN immediately complied. After the 1967 war, Israel occupied the Sinai until a peace treaty between Egypt and Israel was signed in 1979, after which Israel returned ALL of the captured territories in return for peace. There are multiple cases in the Mid-East and the Balkans where the UN Peacekeepers were total failures. That's why! (Israel did a similar land return for peace with Jordan).
2
..., two for one; that’s Jared Kushner’s peace plan, and Airbnb can put properties back online ...
5
Not sure why America gets to decide who owns what. Best to focus on our national borders. Maybe make something tangible happen in Puerto Rico to improve the lives and livelihoods American territories before inserting foot in mouth across the globe.
Good job inmate 2381847493. Oops may be premature
13
To understand the Golan Heights, you need to go there. I have. I have stood at the edge of former Syrian territory and seen first hand how one can simply lob hand grenades down the heights and into Israeli homes. Add modern artillery and you have a tactical nightmare. Syria used these heights to murder Israeli civilians for decades. It is easy to sit here with two friendly neighbors to the north and south, and two big oceans to the left and right and spout platitudes about the international community. The reality is that Israel conquered this territory for its own civilians' lives and should never, ever give it back. PS: Stand on the Golan in differnt places and look into Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon. Do you know how to tell where Israel ends and its "neighbors'" lands begin? The lush green ends, and the dirt brown begins. In between are the small border patrol roads.
14
Is this Kushner's idea of brokering middle east peace?
14
Trump is pro democracy and pro Israel.
The Dems, as exemplified recently by the racist actions of Omar and Talib, have significant anti-Semitic elements.
9
No way!!
2
I’m sure Kushner has the Middle East peace talk under control and Trump knows what he is doing. Lol
5
The evangelicals worship at the throne of the trump almighty. Now the Israeli Jews are supposed to worship their new deity now giving them even more land that belongs to others?
And we continue to give billions of American tax payer money and weapons to this so called ally that continues to spy on us and help authoritarian governments around the world including Saudi Arabia and even Mexico's government, to spy on journalists and human rights NGOs?
See NYT article that just came out "A New Age of Warfare: How Internet Mercenaries Do Battle for Authoritarian Governments" - this says it all at:
https://nyti.ms/2YfyZfd
Let us pray - just not to the trump almighty!
6
Sure, we should do everything and anything that Netanyahu and Israel want.
This move will help Netanyahu get elected - get past the corruption charges and inviting an openly racist Jewish Power Party - descendents and admirers of Meir Kahane and terrorist Kach Party - to join the Netanyahu coalition.
Netanyahu will destroy Israel. Hopefully Israeli democracy will stop him.
Trump will destroy America. Hopefully American democracy will stop him.
13
Choice of words matters. Israel did not "win" the territory as the article says, it has occupied it since 1967. But that's the New York Times.
9
Nice of Don to give Bibi a pre-election gift.
12
Trump is looking more like Assad every day: total narcissistic disregard for life. Quisling to Putin.
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Be sure to get all those capital letters and exclamation points in there Mr. Trump—
As you play to a soon-to-be-indicted-on-corruption-and-bribery Netanyahu.
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Well, Trump is consistent in his tendency to break with long standing US foreign policy.
As a matter of fact, this policy in the Middle East has proven to be at least ineffective and for the most part rather disastrous. Invasion of Iraq in 2002 is only one of many examples.
During 8 years of Obama administration whole Middle East has become such a mess that it is tearing apart not only this traditionally explosive and inpredictable region but has triggered full-scale political crisis in Europe facing unprecedented influx of Muslim migrants and refugees.
So, it could be not such a bad idea to try a different approach. It can hardly do more harm than a previous one.
8
He probably never even heard of the Golan Heights until this morning.
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@theresa
I'll bet he has. I'll also bet you never heard of the fact that the Golan was taken in a war started by Syria (along with Egypt and Jordan). I'll also bet you never heard that up until that point, Syria used to shell Israeli farming communities below in the Galilee and nearby valleys from the Golan.
5
@JW
You have no basis on which to make assumptions about what I know. On the other hand, I have watched this man's ignorance on display daily for the past two years so I feel safe in my assumption.
4
It may be true that Israel needs to maintain control over the Golan Heights to maintain its own security. But that is Israel's decision and the United States should officially neither support nor oppose that decision as an independent country. The ultimate sovereignty over land acquired through war, regardless of who began the war should be decided through international approval by an organization like the UN.
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@RLW
"The ultimate sovereignty over land acquired through war, regardless of who began the war should be decided through international approval by an organization like the UN."
Why not just be honest RLW and acknowledge that you are opposed to Israel doing anything that protects itself from those who are determined to destroy it? You know full well that the UN will always side with Israel's enemies.
1
Remember when we had presidents who consulted with congress, before making majors shifts in policy? This little man is of such low intelligence that he thinks being president is the same as being king.
35
Israeli land theft has been encouraged by every US administration since Bush 41. It's all illegal under international law, but as Ilhan Omar bravely pointed out, it is standard operating procedure due to deeply entrenched Israeli interests in the WH and the halls of Congress. The Israeli stranglehold on our government must come to a decisive end.
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@Drone
The Golan was taken in a war started by Syria (along with Egypt and Jordan) in 1967 ... one last attempt by these three Arab countries to destroy Israel once and for all. They lost. Until that point, Syria used to shell Israeli farming communities below in the Galilee and nearby valleys from the Golan. If capturing territory used to attack you in a war is theft, are you saying Poland should return the entire western half of their country to Germany which lost it to Poland in WWII which attacked Poland starting off the war in 1939?
8
Several people are comparing Israel's occupation of the Golan Heights to Russia's occupation of Crimea. There is a major difference. Israel occupied the Golan only after Syria decided to divert the headwaters, situated in the Golan, of the water sources which supply Israel with fresh water. This was an act of aggression. Syria also used the Golan, which rises above the northern Israel, as a launching platform for rockets into Israeli villages. Obviously, that was another act of aggression.
Ukraine in no way undertook any acts of aggression against Russia to warrant Russian intervention and occupation. It was a pure act of aggression and expansion of the Russian empire. Israel acted in defense of its citizenry.
I realize that does not justify civilian occupation of the Golan, but let's not compare apples to oranges.
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@Tommy
Putin doesn't care the detail you laid out.
He cares one thing, Russia is the sole supporter as a superpower of Syria, Syria's land is taken away.
tit for tat , Putin is not going to move a finger for Golan heights.
But
It is his Crimean annexation , he will use Golan heights as a bargaining chips.
Every one knows it.
Enablers of Putin
Trump & Netanyahu.
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@Tommy Russia only went into Crimea after their natural gas lines were being siphoned by Ukraine. There is always an excuse, and it is always a weak one. They are one and the same. It's called a power grab.
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@Tommy You've missed the point. It is not that Crimea and Golan might well be apples and oranges, it is that in Putin's eyes they are apples and apples. That's all the counts. Trump has handed Putin a pretext, and in so doing undermined basic principles of international law. Netanyahu says this is an historic moment. Yes indeed, historically dangerous.
254
The question is, why would Trump say this? He has no grasp of foreign policy at all. He just just takes such positions to impress someone. Who? Netanyahu? Jared Kushner? Adelson? How are we letting such a shallow man control Middle East policy, and possibly the future of the world??
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@WDP There is no way Israel would ever abandon the Golan Heights. Maintaining control of the Golan is essential to Israeli national security, unlike grabbing Palestinian land and expanding Israeli settlements in the west bank. Trump's declaration is meaningless, except as a blatant interference in Israeli internal politics, boosting Netanyahu in the lead up to Israeli elections.
1
Trump, in his infinite wisdom, is overturning many previous positions. He believes only he can fix things.
I'm not sure Trump actually understands much of anything, especially anything the least bit subtle or complicated. As evidence, after the below which demonstrates conclusively that after six months of being POTUS, he didn't even understand what a pre-existing condition was:
In his July 19, 2017 NYT interview, Trump said: “So pre-existing conditions are a tough deal. Because you are basically saying from the moment the insurance, you’re 21 years old, you start working and you’re paying $12 a year [$12 a year????] for insurance, and by the time you’re 70, you get a nice plan. Here’s something where you walk up and say, “I want my insurance.” It’s a very tough deal, but it is something that we’re doing a good job of.”
7
It's fascinating how the authors of this article could not once bring themselves to note that prior to the Six-Day War, the Syrians used the Golan Heights as a platform to shell Israeli communities in Galilee. Also, Resolution 242 never specifically called on Israel to withdraw from the Golan. Finally, no one in their right mind can expect Israel to ever cede the Golan to a dysfunctional state like Syria.
12
Trump erroneously blamed McCain for "getting us into a war in the Middle East" . Will he "accept the mantle of responsibility" when we get involved in the Heights?
12
A proposal should be made in the middle east for the purchase of land of willing surrounding countries and give it to the Palestinians. It should be more land than the Palestenians would get in a normal peace treaty with Israel.
Israel is interested in biblical palestine, the land mentioned in the bible. Thet gave back 300% more land, which was Sinai, when a peace treaty was signed with Egypt. Possibly some of that land could be bought and given to the Palestinains. Mabe a little Jordan land could also be bought for the Palestenians. It is worth a try.
5
Read the new book "Kushner, Inc."
Jared and others connected to Trump and his business interests are in business with illegal Israel settlement developers, Bibi, and many others.
Trump is using the presidency as a cash machine to benefit his gang.
He should be facing an impeachment in the House right now!!!
14
If one country (Syria) attacks another (Israel in the Six Day War), and looses land as a result of that war...too bad.
12
Trump's recognition of the Israeli annexation of the Golan Heights will provide cover for Putin's annexation of Crimea. Shameful.
6
Trump acts as though his "wants" and "wishes" are enough.
5
We hope for a world of peace and equality, reality however is quite the opposite. In 1848, the United States of America illegally, savagely and immorally took the entire South West away from a democratic and newly independent Mexico. There is no debating that Mexican history would have played out a lot differently had their northern states not been stolen by force. Should the United States of America return these territories back to Mexico? Yes. Will they? No. Do we even care? No. Why don't we care? You tell me.
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@Ugo
Uh, one minor difference Ugo. Mexico never attacked the US; and never vowed to destroy it or questioned its right to exist. The Syrians lost the Golan to Israel during a war they started along with Egypt and Jordan in one last major attempt to destroy Israel once and for all in 1967. They lost. A territory the Syrians used to shell Israeli farms in the valleys below up until that point. Israel owes them nothing. Tough!
2
Israel didn't seize the Golan. The Syrians lost it when they massed their troops to attack from it in the 1967 War. They also attacked in 1973, and almost won it back before being stopped.
I wonder why it is so "disputed?" Who really wants it. Israel has it and the Syrians want it back when they aren't fighting their civil war. That doesn't sound very disputed at all.
Perhaps The New York Times should suggest that the US give back Texas to Mexico (plus "New Mexico") and Florida to Spain.
Why pick on little Israel that absolutely needs this land for Strategic depth?
13
Pander much, Rep. party leader?
Perhaps the current US admin. should consider moving the Capitol bldg. to Tel Aviv or Jersualem, rather.
Who needs Washington DC, anyway?!
Might be able to save a fortune on furlough costs next time there’s a shutdown.
Here’s a thought: Maybe the Israeli Knesset could go ‘halfsies’ on administrative costs if both govts are going to be operating out of the same area?
That’s the least they could do for a friend, given what they’ve received from US TAXPAYERS over the past few decades, right?
14
If you can get a court or a powerful person to agree that your own stealing is not a crime, then it's not a crime. Remember that, kids -- you can actually steal things and get away with it. Just take what you want and then "prove" that it's rightfully yours because you already have it. "Facts on the ground." Morals are for suckers. Ethics are for losers.
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