Sen. Graham Backs Recognition of Israeli Sovereignty on Golan

YERUSHALAYIM
golan heights
L-R: Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman visit the Israeli Golan Heights, Tuesday. (Ronen Zvulun/Pool via AP)

During a visit with Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to the Golan Heights on Monday, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham pledged his support for recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the region.

“I’ve got a simple message. I will go back to the United States Senate. Working with Senator Cruz, I will start an effort to recognize the Golan as part of the State of Israel now and forever,” declared Graham.

“Israel occupied this territory by fighting for its survival. This territory was taken by military force because it was used as a launching point to attack the State of Israel. This territory has a rich Jewish history,” he continued.

“Strategically, I am standing on one of the most important pieces of ground in the State of Israel.”

golan heights
(Amos Ben-Gershom/GPO)

PM Netanyahu welcomed Graham’s remarks. In a statement released afterwards, he said: “You heard very strong words here from Senator Graham that express American policy, President Trump’s policy, of support for Israel.

“They are taking this to a very concrete step – to keep the Golan as part of Israel. Otherwise our border will be with Iran on the shores of the Kinneret – and we are not prepared to accept that,” Netanyahu said.

U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman was also on hand to host Graham in the tour of the Golan.

Syria vowed to attack Israel unless it withdraws from the Golan Heights, World Israel News reported on Thursday.

Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad submitted an official warning to the head of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO), Kristin Lund, in what seemed to be an attempt to prevent official U.S. recognition of Israeli sovereignty in the Golan.

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