Russia rejects Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights

Russian FM claims Israel’s sovereignty over Golan Heights would be a violation of UN resolutions; Pompeo: Under President Trump’s leadership, the United States is standing where it should firmly be- on the side of Israel.

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Russia’s Foreign Minister claimed that any change in the Golan Heights’ status would “be a direct violation” of UN resolutions.

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov made these comments on Wednesday after Prime Minister Netanyahu called on the global community to recognize Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights in Israel. Lavrov claimed to journalists from Russia’s Sputnik media that “The status of the Golan Heights is determined by the resolutions of the UN Security Council. Changing this status bypassing the Security Council, from my perspective, would be a direct violation of these resolutions.”

United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo reiterated the Trump Administration’s support for Israel in defending itself from Iranian threats in Syria. He announced the cut of aid to Syria until Iranian forces were expelled, stating on Wednesday “If Syria doesn’t ensure the total withdraw of Iranian-backed troops it will not receive one single dollar from the United States for reconstruction… Our goal is simple: to cut off the revenue to a regime that spreads terror and chaos to fund its nuclear programs, and to line its own pockets with money that should be given to the Iranian people.”

He added “Rarely in world affairs is the contrast between two sides so stark. Under President Trump’s leadership, the United States is standing where it should firmly be- on the side of Israel.”

Prime Minister Netanyahu earlier this week announced his talks with President Putin would focus on Iranian forces in Syria, as well as the Golan Heights. He stated on Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights “Israel on the Golan Heights is a guarantee for stability in the surrounding area. Israel on the Golan Heights is a solid reality based on ancient rights. Israel on the Golan Heights is a fact that the international community must recognize and as long as it depends on me the Golan Heights will always remain under Israeli sovereignty because otherwise we would have Iran and Hezbollah on the shores of the Kineret [Sea of Galilee]”.

On preemptive strikes and Israel’s defense against Iran and its proxies, he stated “We will continue to act with determination against Iran’s attempts to open an additional front against us on the Golan Heights, and in Syria we will act against all attempts to transfer lethal weapons to Hezbollah in Lebanon.”

Be sure to watch Amir’s recent Middle East Current Events Update from the Israeli-Syrian border.