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The Syrian government and opposition have slammed the recent remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump, in which he voiced his intention to recognize Israel’s sovereignty over the occupied Syrian Golan Heights.
In a statement to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), a source in Syria’s Foreign Ministry called Trump’s remarks “irresponsible” and accused Washington of blindly following the interests of Israel.
“The U.S. stance towards the occupied Syrian Golan clearly reflects its contempt for international legitimacy and its flagrant violation of international resolutions, especially UNSC [the United Nations Security Council] Resolution No. 497 of 1981, which categorically rejects the decision of the Israeli occupation government and its arbitrary measures regarding the Golan and considers it null, void and has no legal effect,” the source said on March 22, according to the SANA.
The source added that Trump’s statement will never change the fact that the Golan will always be a Syrian territory and that the Syrian people are more determined to liberate it by all possible means.
Nasr al-Hariri, head of the Syrian opposition delegation for the Geneva Talks, took a similar stand to that of the Syrian government, saying that al-Golan Heights is a Syrian region and that the Syrian people has the right to liberate it.
“The Golan Heights is a Syrian region that is occupied by the Zionist aggressor, the Syrian people maintain the right to defend it and liberate it in all legitimate ways in accordance with the international law,” al-Hariri wrote on Twitter.
While Trump received praise for his remarks from top Israeli and U.S. officials, he was meet with much anger from the rest of the world. Russia, Iran, the European Union, the Arab League and even Turkey criticized Trump’s remarks and voiced their support for Syria’s right in the Golan Heights.
This Syrian and international objection will not likely stop Washington from turning Trump’s remarks into a reality. A bill that recognizes Israel sovereignty over the occupied region is already making its way in the Senate and the House.
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