BRUSSELS—‘’The European Union does not recognise Israeli sovereignty over the occupied Golan Heights,’’ EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said Wednesday in a short statement ”on behalf of the EU.”
She reacted to the U.S. decision to officially recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights. U.S. President Donald Trump signed on Monday a proclamation to make what he tweeted last week become official.“After 52 years it is time for the United States to fully recognize Israel’s Sovereignty over the Golan Heights, which is of critical strategic and security importance to the State of Israel and Regional Stability!” he posted on Twitter.
Monday’s ceremony, in presence of Israeli Prie Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, featured the signing of an official proclamation. It was also attended by U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. The pen Trump used to sign the declaration was handed to Netanyahu as a gift for the Israeli people.
In her statement, EU’s Mogherini said : ‘’The position of the European Union as regards the status of the Golan Heights has not changed. In line with the international law and UN Security Council resolutions 242 and 497, the European Union does not recognise Israeli sovereignty over the occupied Golan Heights.’’
The U.S. decision on the Golan Heights is seen as another accomplishment for an administration that has been lauded for its pro-Israel agenda that includes recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of the Jewish state and relocating the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.