We are deeply concerned about U.S. President Donald Trump’s declaration that “it is time for the United States to fully recognize Israel’s Sovereignty over the Golan Heights”. This unilateral step ignores International Law and puts a future comprehensive peace in the Middle East at risk.
The Golan Heights were conquered by Israeli forces from Syria during the war in June 1967. Israel applied its law to the territory east of the Sea of Galilea through the Golan Heights Law in 1981. We stand by the UN-Resolution 497, which was passed by the Security Council unanimously and which declares the Israeli decision “without any international legal effect”. The Progressive Alliance reaffirms the principle of the UN-Charta that acquisition of territory by force is inadmissible. We consider it dangerous that the U.S. President is ready to break with this very principle.
The future of the Golan Heights can only be decided in a comprehensive peace treaty between all sides involved.