Israel Anticipates US Recognition of Sovereignty Over Golan Heights — War Provocation

• Israel Anticipates US Recognition of Sovereignty Over Golan Heights
  by Mark Weiss in Jerusalem, https://www.irishtimes.com/
  Pompeo omission of ‘occupied territories’ description from report boosts expectations
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  The Trump administration may recognise Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights when prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu visits the White House later this month, some Israeli officials believe.
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  Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria during the 1967 Six-Day War and annexed it in 1981. The United States, along with the entire international community, has never recognised that act.
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  Mr Netanyahu enjoys a particularly friendly relationship with Mr Trump, who had no objection to the Israeli leader using his image on campaign posters ahead of Israel’s April 9th election.
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  Mr Trump has already changed US policy on a number of issues long advocated by Israel, including withdrawing from the Iran nuclear deal and moving the US embassy to Jerusalem.
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  Israel has also been pressing Washington to recognise Israeli sovereignty over the strategic Golan plateau and such an important strategic shift, two weeks ahead of the Israeli election, would be a significant diplomatic coup for Mr Netanyahu, maybe even a game-changer in a particularly close election.
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  Recent events
  Two recent events have raised hopes in Jerusalem that such a move may be now be on the cards. The state department on Wednesday omitted for the first time the term “occupied territories” from its description of the Golan Heights in its annual human rights report, issued by secretary of state Mike Pompeo.
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  Earlier in the week, influential senator Lindsey Graham, who enjoys a close relationship with Mr Trump, visited the Golan and announced that upon his return to Washington he would work with Senator Ted Cruz to set a process in motion to recognise the area as part of Israel “now and forever”.
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  “Israel took control of this territory in a war for its existence,” Mr Graham said. “This area was taken by military force because it served as a launching pad to attack the state of Israel. There is rich Jewish history in this region.”
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