In Arab world, belief prevails that Trump will recognize Israeli sovereignty over Golan Heights
'Netanyahu was already guaranteed the approval of the Trump administration,' says Moeen al-Taher, a Jordanian political analyst; PM made request during recent meeting with John Bolton.
Arab analysts believe that U.S. President Donald Trump will recognize Israel's sovereignty on the Golan Heights, which was captured during the 1967 Six-Day War, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's appeal last week had little impact on a decision that has essentially already been made.
Netanyahu is pressing the US administration to recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, hoping to use it as leverage in light of Trump's decision to withdraw from Syria. And while US National Security Adviser John Bolton signaled an about-face on withdrawal plans at a joint press conference with Netanyahu in Jerusalem, it appears that a potential shift in policy on the Golan Heights will not be affected.
“I don’t think Netanyahu would ask for such a thing unless he was already guaranteed the approval of the Trump administration. He (Netanyahu) is certain of the answer and wouldn’t risk putting himself in an embarrassing position in case Trump refuses,” said Moeen al-Taher, a Jordanian political analyst.
The Golan Heights, a plateau on the Syria-Israel border, was captured from Syria during the 1967 Six-Day War, and effectively annexed by Israel in 1981. Thousands of Israeli citizens, a wine industry and agricultural enterprises have moved in despite Syrian claims to the land. The Jewish State sees the Golan Heights as a strategic territory, a convergence with Jordan, Syria and Lebanon.
Speaking at the press conference, Netanyahu stressed Israel's right to the Golan, and vowed that the Jewish state would never give up its claim.
"Tomorrow, if whether permits, we will go up to the Golan Heights, it is tremendously important for our security. When you are there, you'll be able to understand perfectly why we will never leave the Golan Heights and why it is important that all countries recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights," the prime minister said.
Al-Taher pointed out that Israel’s policy is imposing a fait accompli rather than waiting for international approval.
Lebanese activist Nada Nasif said Netanyahu is trying to take maximum advantage of an American president who is susceptible to persuasion. “The Zionist entity is simply doing the best it can to benefit from a selfish person—Trump. It is working hard to achieve (recognition of sovereignty) while Trump is still the president of the US.”
Others familiar with the situation maintained that American recognition would have little actual impact.
“Israel wants to show that it is winning," said Palestinian analyst Hani al-Masri. "The American recognition won’t change anything on the ground or the status of the occupied Golan Heights.”
Muhannad, a Syrian activist speaking on condition of anonymity, also said that the Israeli request was pointless, regardless of the US response. “At the end of the day, Trump’s recognition is simply not important and won’t change anything on the ground; what has been taken by force, will only be retrieved by force," he said.
"The US is free to decide whatever it wants, and even if Trump rejects the Israeli demand, that won’t help Syria restore its occupied territories. The same happened when the Arabs and Palestinians protested for days against the American recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, and that didn’t change anything.”
Trump relocated the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in May 2018, breaking with decades of international policy on a central component of the Israel-Palestinian conflict, and delighting the Israeli leadership.
Muhannad believes that the majority of Arab leaders are full of promises and speeches, but when it comes to action, they all seek American and Russian blessing and approval.
“It’s time for us to stop pleasing the US and Russia and instead build our countries,” he said.
Article written by Dima Abumaria, reprinted with permission from The Media Line
Shirley Rosenfeld contributed to this report
