World Community Rejects Trump’s Position on Syrian’s Golan
by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org - Home - Stephen Lendman)
Trump saying it’s time to recognize Israeli control over Syria’s Golan Heights flies in the face of binding international law - what no one can legally circumvent, what the US and Israel do repeatedly.
Thanking Trump, Netanyahu turned truth on its head, accusing Iran of “seek(ing) to use Syria as a platform to destroy Israel” - a bald-faced Big Lie.
He’ll surely repeat it when addressing this month’s (March 24 - 26) AIPAC conference, the annual Israel lovefest.
Republicans and undemocratic Dems stumble over each other, paying homage to the Jewish state - a shameful exhibition, pretending Ziofascist apartheid rule over Palestinians is democratic.
Syria condemned Trump’s statement on Golan, its Foreign Ministry calling it reckless “irresponsible, hegemon(ic) arrogance…confirm(ing) the United States’ blind commitment to Israel and support of its aggressive ways,” adding:
“The statements did not change the reality that the Golan was and will remain Syrian, Arab.”
“The Syrian nation is more determined to liberate this precious piece of Syrian national land through all available means.”
Russia’s Foreign Ministry slammed Trump’s tweet, saying: “Changing the status of the Golan Heights bypassing the Security Council is in direct violation of UN decisions.”
“Russia…takes a principled position on the issue of the Syrian Arab Republic’s ownership of the Golan Heights. This is confirmed by UN Security Council Resolution 497 of 1981. Our assessment of the unlawful nature of Israel’s decision to extend its sovereignty to the Golan Heights remains unchanged.”
Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Trump’s Golan statement “may significantly destabilize the already-tense situation in the Middle East. In any case, the idea per se by no means contributes to the Middle East settlement, quite the opposite.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted: “All shocked by @realDonaldTrump continuing to try to give what is not his to racist Israel: first Al-Quds (Jerusalem) & now Golan.”
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Bahram Ghasemi slammed Trump, saying his extremism is responsible for regional “crises,” adding:
“Israel, as an occupying regime, does not have sovereignty over any Arab and Islamic lands, and its aggressions and occupations should be stopped immediately.”
Criticism by tinpot despot Turkish President Erdogan on all issues is like the pot calling the kettle black. He slammed Trump’s pronouncement, saying “(w)e cannot allow the legitimization of the occupation of the Golan Heights.”
An Arab League statement expressed full support for Syrian control over Golan, its sovereign territory.
EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini’s spokeswoman said “(t)he European Union, in accordance with international law, does not recognize Israel’s sovereignty over the territories it occupied since July 1967, including the Golan Heights, and does not consider them as part of Israeli territory.”
On Friday, the UN Human Rights Council criticized Israeli settlements in occupied Syrian Golan, Syria’s envoy to the UN in Geneva, Edin Aala, saying: The statement “send(s) a clear message...to the occupying power and to all who support Israel inside this Council and outside.”
Israel sought world community acceptance of its control over Golan for decades. It’s gotten help from hardline Senators Lindsey Graham, Ted Cruz, and others, pushing Trump to extend recognition.
A Senate resolution yet to be voted on turned truth on its head, claiming US national security interests are served by “ensur(ing) Israel retains control over the Golan Heights” - preventing Bashar al-Assad from returning the territory to the Syrian Arab Republic.
Reportedly, Pompeo and Bolton favor recognizing Israeli control over Golan, their support likely triggering Trump’s tweet on the issue - Congress yet to consider it.
On March 25 and 26, Netanyahu will meet with Trump and other US officials at the White House, the topic sure to be discussed, a White House statement saying:
“The president and the prime minister will discuss their countries’ shared interests and actions in the Middle East during a working meeting on March 25.” On Tuesday night, Trump will host a dinner for Netanyahu.
His visit comes ahead of April 9 Israeli elections. On February 28, Israeli attorney general Mendelblit said he intends indicting Netanyahu on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust - following a public hearing to be held in the coming weeks.
Separately on Friday, the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) adopted a report by a UN Independent Commission of Inquiry (COI) probe into (peaceful) weekly Palestinian Gaza protests in Gaza since last March. Its damning findings said the following:
“No justification (has existed during the past 11 months) for Israel to shoot (Palestinians threatening no one) with live fire.”
According to COI chair Santiago Canton, “(t)he Commission has reasonable grounds to believe that during the Great March of Return, Israeli soldiers committed violations of international human rights and humanitarian law. Some of those violations may constitute war crimes or crimes against humanity, and must be immediately investigated by Israel.”
In May 2018, weeks after Great March of Return protests began, the COI was formed “to investigate all alleged violations and abuses of international humanitarian law and international human rights law in” Gaza.
In the past year, over 250 Gazans were murdered, over 26,000 others injured, many seriously, including women, children, paramedics and journalists.
In adopting the COI report, the HRC denounced Israel’s “intentional use of unlawful lethal and other excessive force” against Gazan civilians threatening no one.
Next Friday, March 29, marks the one-year anniversary of Great March of Return Fridays begun on March 30 last year.
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