The UN Security Council yesterday condemned the recognition by the USA of Israeli sovereignty in the Golan Heights. The Golan is the small area of high ground along the Israel-Syria border that the Israelis captured after they were attacked by Syria in 1967. Israel annexed the area in 1981. Prior to 1967, the Syrians used the Golan to fire into northern Israel on a periodic basis. Ever since 1967, the world diplomatic community has taken the position that the Golan remained part of Syria but was occupied by Israel. A few days ago, President Trump signed a declaration that the USA now recognizes the Golan as an integral part of Israel. Predictably, the UN is now condemning that announcement.
A few facts are necessary before we move on. Under international law, a country that invades another and seizes land cannot annex that land. That means that, for example, when the Russians invaded Crimea and seized it from Ukraine, the annexation of Crimea was illegal. On the other hand, if a country is first attacked and then successfully fights back and takes land from the aggressor, then the land captured can legally be annexed according to international law. That is what happened in 1967. The Syrians attacked together with Egypt. Israel defended itself and then counterattacked and took the Golan. Under international law, it was perfectly legal for the Israelis to annex the region.
But why did President Trump change the US position after all these decades? The answer is that it is all part of a the new US strategy for the area. President Trump has been recognizing actual reality rather than the fictions dictated by diplomats for the last 50 years. For example, Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. The government offices and the Israeli parliament are located in Jerusalem. Israel designates Jerusalem as the capital. When Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital he was just recognizing reality. The Palestinians may not have like it, but they will have to recognize reality if there is ever to be peace. Similarly, the Golan has been under Israeli control for 52 years. Israel properly annexed the region in accordance with international law almost 40 years ago. Syria may not like this, but it will have to recognize reality if there is ever to be peace between Syria and Israel. The President is just trying to get the parties to a realistic starting position for peace negotiations. It's Trump's way of telling the Arabs that there will not be a negotiation about nonsense; it will focus on the actual facts.
This strategy may or may not work. We don't know yet. We do know that the previous strategy of clinging to phony "diplomatic" facts never worked. Getting rid of that failed strategy and trying something different is a good thing, not something that the UN should be condemning. The UN diplomats, however, never forgive the USA for the sin of telling the truth.
A few facts are necessary before we move on. Under international law, a country that invades another and seizes land cannot annex that land. That means that, for example, when the Russians invaded Crimea and seized it from Ukraine, the annexation of Crimea was illegal. On the other hand, if a country is first attacked and then successfully fights back and takes land from the aggressor, then the land captured can legally be annexed according to international law. That is what happened in 1967. The Syrians attacked together with Egypt. Israel defended itself and then counterattacked and took the Golan. Under international law, it was perfectly legal for the Israelis to annex the region.
But why did President Trump change the US position after all these decades? The answer is that it is all part of a the new US strategy for the area. President Trump has been recognizing actual reality rather than the fictions dictated by diplomats for the last 50 years. For example, Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. The government offices and the Israeli parliament are located in Jerusalem. Israel designates Jerusalem as the capital. When Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital he was just recognizing reality. The Palestinians may not have like it, but they will have to recognize reality if there is ever to be peace. Similarly, the Golan has been under Israeli control for 52 years. Israel properly annexed the region in accordance with international law almost 40 years ago. Syria may not like this, but it will have to recognize reality if there is ever to be peace between Syria and Israel. The President is just trying to get the parties to a realistic starting position for peace negotiations. It's Trump's way of telling the Arabs that there will not be a negotiation about nonsense; it will focus on the actual facts.
This strategy may or may not work. We don't know yet. We do know that the previous strategy of clinging to phony "diplomatic" facts never worked. Getting rid of that failed strategy and trying something different is a good thing, not something that the UN should be condemning. The UN diplomats, however, never forgive the USA for the sin of telling the truth.
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