World-Wide Opposition To U.S. Recognition Of Golan Heights As Israeli

Gulf Arabs, Europeans, Iran reject U.S. recognition of Golan Heights as Israeli

By Maher Chmaytelli

U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to recognize Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights united Washington's Arab allies and their regional foe Iran in condemnation on Tuesday.

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait criticized Monday's move to recognize Israel's 1981 annexation and said the territory was occupied Arab land. Riyadh and Abu Dhabi said it was an impediment to peace.

Iran echoed the comments, describing Trump's decision as unprecedented in this century.

"No one could imagine that a person in America comes and gives land of a nation to another occupying country, against international laws and conventions," President Hassan Rouhani was quoted as saying by state news agency IRNA.

Trump, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu looking over his shoulder during a visit to Washington, on Monday signed a proclamation officially granting U.S. recognition of the Golan Heights as Israeli territory.

The European members of the United Nations Security Council - France, Britain, Germany, Belgium and Poland - said they did not recognize Israel's sovereignty over the territories it has occupied since June 1967, including the Golan Heights. 

"We raise our strong concerns about broader consequences of recognizing illegal annexation and also about the broader regional consequences," they said on Tuesday.

"It will have significant negative effects on the peace process in the Middle East and the security and stability of the region," said a statement on Saudi state news agency SPA.

Lebanon said the decision contravened international law.

"The world is witnessing a black day," Lebanese President Michel Aoun wrote on Twitter during a visit to Russia.

Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Lebanon’s Iran-backed Hezbollah movement, a key Damascus ally, said the move was evidence of U.S. "disdain and disregard" for the Arab and Muslim world and of international law.

"This absolute supporter of Israel cannot be a sponsor of the peace process and here he is today dealing a deadly blow to the so-called peace process," Nasrallah said in a televised speech.