[ April 27, 2024 ]
Members of Congress are going to debate a measure giving Israel the formal U.S. recognition of its sovereignty over the contested Golan Heights.
Currently, Syria lays claim to the parcel, as well as Islamic terror groups that believe Israel doesn’t even hold a rightful place on world maps.
Rep. Ron DeSantis, a Florida Republican, introduced the resolution.
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It comes as President Donald Trump’s promise to open a U.S. Embassy to Israel in Jerusalem just came true.
From the Washington Free Beacon:
Congress is set to consider a new measure to recognize Israel’s sovereignty over the contested Golan Heights region that separates Israel from Syria, a key piece of territory that has become all the more important since the civil war in Syria brought scores of jihadist fighters, including those backed by Iran, into the region.
Rep. Ron DeSantis (R., Fla.), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, introduced on Thursday a resolution that could lead to an historic recognition by the United States that the contested area fully belongs to Israel, according to a copy of the amendment obtained by the Washington Free Beacon.
Israel annexed the Golan Heights in 1981 following the Six Day War in the late 60s with Arab nations in the region. The United States has declined for decades to take a position on the status of this territory, but following President Donald Trump’s decision to move the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, DeSantis and others see an opportunity for the United States to recognize another territorial reality—that the Golan Heights will not be given back to Syria, particularly in light of the strife gripping the country.
The amendment puts the United States on Israel’s side in the land dispute and describes the Golan Heights as a key piece of territory that cannot fall into the hands of Iran, which has staked claims in Syria and continues to threaten Israel’s northern border.
“It is the sense of the Congress that the Golan Heights represent an integral part of the state of Israel and are crucial to the ability of Israel to safeguard its borders and maintain its existence,” the measure states.
“Given the civil war in Syria and the expansion of Iranian influence in Syria, the United States should recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights,” the amendment adds.
The House Rules Committee is in possession of the measure, but have yet to take a stance.
DeSantis told the Free Beacon the Golan Heights territory is key to thwarting Iranian influence across the region and that the United States’ recognition that Israel owns the territory could send a powerful message across the region.
“The continuing turmoil in Syria and the steady expansion of Iranian influence illustrate why the Golan Heights are so important to the state of Israel and the anti-terror alliance,” DeSantis said. “The Golan provides Israel with a necessary buffer against the malevolent actors that are wreaking havoc in Syria.”
If Israel was forced to give back the territory it would leave itself vulnerable to an increase in terror attacks from Iranian controlled forces and other malevolent actors who would use the Golan region to stage strikes, DeSantis said.
“Indeed, Israel would be hard-pressed to ward off such threats without the Golan,” the lawmaker explained. “Given the interest of the U.S. in rolling back Iranian influence and combating terrorism, it is time for the United States to recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights.”
As with the United States’ recent recognition that Jerusalem is Israel’s capital city, the recognition that the Golan Heights cannot be given back to Syria represents a factual reality on the ground, DeSantis said.
“There is no conceivable scenario in which it makes sense for Israel to abandon such a strategically significant location so that terrorists can fill the vacuum left behind,” he said.
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81 Comments
5 years ago
Not sure about this move.
Of course the Golan Heights should be maintained as a buffer zone, but changing sovereignty might be a step too far at this time; coming so soon after the embassy move, it has the potential to diminish the importance of recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
Who knows what the future will bring?
If some sort of joint sovereignty deal was part of a lasting peace treaty with an independent and secular Syria, then that bit of real estate could be a vital ingredient of any deal.
5 years ago
Reply to
WorkingClassPost
“but changing sovereignty might be a step too far at this time; coming so soon after the embassy move”
Actually, continuing to hand palestinians additional defeats until they understand that they have pushed too far, for too long, is exactly what they need.
5 years ago
Reply to
Justice Delivered
I don’t agree. This is zealously nullifying any potential peace between them. Israel as a sovereign country has every right to declare what city is its capital.
Land will be used as negotiation if there is to be peace. Let Israel negotiate what ever land etc it needed to try and have peace. Boundaries need to be determined by the Israel and the Palestinians NOT THE U.S.!
5 years ago
Reply to
Justice Delivered
“hand palestinians additional defeats”
Conflating Syrians with Arabs who call themselves palestinian, is exactly the problem I’m talking about, and handing out defeats, is not the way to gain any kind of lasting peace, anywhere in this world of ours.
5 years ago
Reply to
WorkingClassPost
but changing sovereignty might be a step too far at this time; coming so soon after the embassy move, it has the potential to diminish the importance of recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
I say get the hard stuff out of the way all at once. This will undoubtedly be a bitter pill for many Syrians, but Syria is barely a country now, and it is in the grips of an Islamic tyranny- no better time to make it crystal clear that is a losing proposition . Syrian governments have never had an iota of legitimacy, and if the benefits of extending rule of law, not by bloody dictators, calls for Israeli sovereignty, so be it.
Nobody knows what the future will bring. The best we can is make the wisest choices we can based on facing up to reality. I am very skeptical of joint sovereignty- it smacks of to me hudna (you know, where Moslems make a temporary treaty that will expire at a more convenient time for the forces of Islam).
5 years ago
Reply to
Liatris Spicata
When has Syria NOT been in the grips of Islamic tyranny (a redundancy if there ever was one)? 700 CE?
5 years ago
Reply to
Liatris Spicata
Joint sovereignty was not so much a suggestion, as pointing to one option, and keeping options available is almost always the best option, if you get my point…
5 years ago
Reply to
WorkingClassPost
The point that you seem incapable of grasping is the Israel annexed the Golan Heights, THIRTY-SEVEN years AGO!
5 years ago
Reply to
WorkingClassPost
The Golan Heights was taken in the Six Day War. It was annexed in 1981. I’d say that sovereignty was changed quite some time ago.
5 years ago
Reply to
Achmed Mohandjob
Yes, so what point in rubbing Syrian noses in it?
If there was any sure way to guarantee a hard line islamic takeover of Syria, then claiming sovereignty over part of their lands is probably first on that list of motivators.
5 years ago
Reply to
WorkingClassPost
Israel ANNEXED (as in PAST tense) the Golan Heights, in 1981. They established sovereignty thirty-seven years AGO. Ergo, that “motivator” has been around for quite some time. Syrian noses have been rubbed for a long time, as thirty-seven years isn’t “last week”.
5 years ago
Reply to
Achmed Mohandjob
Controlling the land is one thing, declaring sovereignty is quite another, and smacks of land grabbing, which is what Israel is always being accused off, so why give the accusers more grounds for complaint?
The Heights were held as a means of self-protection, not as part of some sort of ‘Greater Israel’ project, so why try to claim them now?
5 years ago
Reply to
WorkingClassPost
Directly from the article: “Israel annexed the Golan Heights in 1981 following the Six Day War in the late 60s with Arab nations in the region.”
It has ALREADY been annexed. What is your difficulty in grasping that? Whether the US or any other nation acknowledges that fact, has nothing to do with it ALREADY being annexed. Israel is not trying “to claim them now”, it HAS claimed them for THIRTY-SEVEN years.
5 years ago
Reply to
Achmed Mohandjob
I am fully aware of the situation on the ground, thanks.
In a region where moving an embassy from one town to another can cause such mayhem as we’re witnessing today, claiming sovereignty over another country’s land is actually quite a big thing; plus, has Israel even asked for such a change?
5 years ago
Reply to
WorkingClassPost
Israel ANNEXED the Golan Heights, thirty-seven years AGO. They have not asked for any change … they ALREADY annexed it. Why can you not grasp that it ALREADY occurred thirty-seven years AGO?
5 years ago
Reply to
WorkingClassPost
Why can you not grasp that the Golan Heights was annexed thirty-seven years ago? You seem to be the troll, incapable of grasping simple facts .. and rambling on with incoherent babble. Please, just stop it.
5 years ago
Reply to
Achmed Mohandjob
What bit of this don’t you understand?
Israel captured the Golan Heights during the six day war, and annexed them in 1981.
Today we are talking about conferring sovereignty to Israel, which means recognizing the area as part of Israel, rather than merely holding onto a strategic piece of land in self defence.
Leaving the sovereignty open, as a bargaining chip in future negotiations, is what I’m talking about. What are you saying?
5 years ago
Reply to
WorkingClassPost
Israel already claimed sovereignty, in 1981. No other nation can “confer” it. It already exists. Whether the US recognizes that, or not, does not alter that fact. The sovereignty is not “open”. That is what I am talking about. What are you saying?
5 years ago
Reply to
Achmed Mohandjob
I’ve already said what I have to say.
One of us is looking to the future, and one is looking at the past.
It’s gone midnight here.
Good night.
5 years ago
Reply to
WorkingClassPost
One of us is looking at reality and one is looking at … I have no idea.
5 years ago
Reply to
WorkingClassPost
What? That you have come out of therapy and finally recognize reality?
5 years ago
Reply to
WorkingClassPost
Bargaining chip w/f’ing muslums? Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahaha…. They don’t want pieces of Israel they want it all.
5 years ago
‘Son of Hamas’ rocks U.N. with defense of Israel.: Mosab Hassan Yousef
5 years ago
When Syria controlled the Golan Heights, its army would, periodically, fire on the Hula (?) Valley below, and, as I recall, killed a few Israeli civilians that way. That’s the way brutal dictatorships roll. In my mind, by doing that, they forfeited any claim to the Golan. The Israelis would be fools to relinquish those strategic heights.
5 years ago
To the victor, go the spoils, annex Golan heights.
5 years ago
Reply to
Mahou Shoujo
It was annexed in 1981. It should have been done, following the Six Day War. Better late than never.
5 years ago
Reply to
Mahou Shoujo
The Arab countries shouldn’t have ATTACKED Israel aggressively time and time again. Now they have the nerve to play the victim?
5 years ago
Reply to
R. Arandas
They will try anything to get their way. There are too many fools in the international community that are suckered in by muslims, who are liars by order of the qur’an.
5 years ago
From 1948 till 1967, the Golan was a prime launching pad for terror and attack on Israeli citizens. Shells rained down on Israel and PLO terrorists used it as a point of entry. It is absolutely and utterly and forever ISRAEL now.
D
5 years ago
Palestinians (and other muslim nationalists countries like Syria) should be THANKFUL that recognition is the only thing happening.
If it were me I would declare war on them (Palestinians) in self defense, defeat them outright and exile them. It is not immoral to exile neo-nazis who want to commit organized genocide against you (it’s in their text books and school system).
D
5 years ago
Reply to
TD
Syria and other Palestinian sympathizers should be grateful that Israel has more restraint that supporters like me; who just thinks it’s wrong to tolerate a terror state living next door. we would never allow that in the US. ever.
5 years ago
Reply to
TD
I guess “upping” your own comment is one way to ensure that your horn gets tooted!
D
5 years ago
Reply to
Liatris Spicata
I will up any comment in favor of getting rid of terror states.
yes, even my own!
D
D
5 years ago
Reply to
TD
Watch out, TD … She’ll come back and call you a member of a “goon squad” and tell you about all of the “moderate peace loving” moslems ….. That guttersnipe is a real hoot.
D
5 years ago
Reply to
Liatris Spicata
And I guess talking out of both sides of your mouth about islum and muslums makes you even-handed!
5 years ago
Reply to
IzlamDownpressesHumanity
Listen, slimeball, I do not “speak out of both sides of my mouth”. About Islam, or anything else.
You are a jackass, and sit on the advisory committe of the local goon squad.
5 years ago
Reply to
Liatris Spicata
Yes you do, you defend the f’ing muslum vermin on the one hand while insincerely condemning islum on the other.
5 years ago
Reply to
Achmed Mohandjob
Supercilious, hypocritical and sanctimonious, he’s a hat trick alright!
5 years ago
Reply to
IzlamDownpressesHumanity
Ever notice that the only thing, that ever “upvotes” latrine spittoon is that lebby moslem?
5 years ago
Reply to
Liatris Spicata
Most boards I post to remind you to “upvote” yourself and why wouldn’t you? TD is right.
D
5 years ago
ISRAEL gave the U.S. a major COLD-WAR victory by winning the 1967 war.
———————————————————————————————————-
The Russians wanted to OVERTHROW Israel, by COLLUDING with Egypt, Syria, and Jordan. It failed and doomed Soviet interventions in the region.
Yes, the liberal New York Times wrote about it.
D
5 years ago
Reply to
TD
Arming UK in WW2 paid off. Arming Israel pays off.
Recognize the Golan Heights!
5 years ago
Reply to
TD
Whether the United States of America recognizes the Golan Heights as annexed by Israel or not … Israel DID annex it in 1981. Do we (US) need Iran to recognize that Iowa is part of the United States of America?
5 years ago
Reply to
Achmed Mohandjob
The reason to recognize it would be that it would be more difficult for a future Democrat President to pressure Israel to “show a sign of good faith” and “Trade land for peace”.
5 years ago
Reply to
Robinske2
I firmly believe that the United States of America should “recognize” Israel’s 1981 annexation of the Golan Heights. It’s thirty-eight years late, but better late than never.
5 years ago
Congress won’t do anything with that and should NOT!. Not one Demoncrapper attended the embassy opening. The votes are NOT there. Plus this is something Israel has to work out.
It’s one thing to declare Jerusalem Israel’s capital but it is NOT our place to determine BOUNDARIES and LAND ownership for peace. That has to be worked out with Israel and her enemies. It’s better to keep it as a BUFFER zone and let Israel work it out. The U.S. should be a mediator if needed but it is NOT our place to set boundaries. Otherwise by default we are dictating boundaries – again that is not out place to do that. We can’t let Israel use US like that. For any kind of lasting peace, even if it is just for seven years, has to be worked out with the Palestinians.
5 years ago
What about the “West Bank”? Otherwise known as Judea and Samaria?
Under Bashar Assad’s “moderate” muslum father the Golan Hts. was used as a an artillery position to shell CIVILIAN settlements and farms in Northern Israel.
5 years ago
Russia has a right to Crimea much stronger than Israel to Golan Heights, yet the USA are not even debating recognising Russian sovereignty in Crimea which voted of its own volition to leave Ukraine to which it was given by a whim of a Ukrainian politician and return to Russia to which is rightly belongs.
5 years ago
Reply to
Liatris Spicata
Long history and ethnic ties. Israel and the Golan Heights are not the same.
5 years ago
Reply to
aemoreira1981
What about the 1994 Budapest Memorandum? Besides, parts of many surrounding modern-day countries were part of the “Promised Land” in ancient times.
5 years ago
Reply to
Liatris Spicata
Because it was a part of Russia for a couple of centuries until an Ukrainian bureaucrat in power gave it to Ukraine to manage a few decades ago.
5 years ago
Reply to
Ми же целог света славни
Well, to be fair, the USSR did give Crimea to Ukraine…they made the choice themselves to do so.
5 years ago
Reply to
R. Arandas
Not the USSR, because countries are not humans to act with a will, but a single Ukrainian bureaucrat, who had usurped all power illegally, otherwise an one ridiculed by the West as a simpleton fore his behaviour in the UN and such.
5 years ago
When the Syrian muslum vermin lost the Golan Heights in the Six Day War, one Syrian Druze officer was held responsible for the loss and executed and he wasn’t even the senior commanding officer in the theater.
5 years ago
Reply to
Achmed Mohandjob
He was there but he was hardly in overall command of the theater, but the muslums need to have their scapegoats and kuffar are always the best choice for the job.
5 years ago
True, Islam wiped out Christianity in most of the Levant, Mesopotamia, Egypt, North Africa, Anatolia, and even Arabia itself.
5 years ago
Well, Israel withdrew from both Sinai and Gaza, has that gained them or cost them in the long run?
5 years ago
They better do before more Muslims are elected to Congress.
5 years ago
Once that is past, they can work on a bill to to the same with the Gaza strip.
5 years ago
Israel should give back the Golan heights as a sign of good faith, and in return the UN peace keepers should be allowed to set up an out post, with multi national countries stationed there to help police the region. Which would help to protect Israel from any kind of advancement from other countries like Iran or Iraq, trying to attack them from the Golan heights. This could also act as a peaceful solution to this uncontrolled piece of land in the Middle East, while trying to relive tension, with other countries and perhaps finally bring peace to the Middle East. If anything it would be a step in the right direction.
5 years ago
Reply to
BUTCHER BOB
I would agree with you except for one thing. The UN is so anti Israel I would be afraid the “peacekeepers” would aid Israel’s enemies.
5 years ago
Reply to
BUTCHER BOB
Of course you’re 100% wrong. They gave up Gaza and Islamists turned Gaza into a hellhole that can only survive as a welfare state because anything deemed unislamic is destroyed. Israel should take Gaza back and East Jerusalem.
5 years ago
The article is hilarious. Israel doesn’t care (and rightly so) about how Congress “feels”.
5 years ago
Since Israel is the region’s only Democracy and the only nation that gives it’s citizens the same rights Americans have, then America should be supportive of Israel establishing Democracy and freedom in areas currently under Sharia law/slavery.
