Mike Pompeo became the first US Secretary of State to visit the Golan Heights. Reported by Reuters.
It is noted that first Pompeo visited Jewish settlements located on the West Bank of the Jordan River. In particular, there he visited a winery, after which he went to the Golan Heights.
“I really wanted to make this trip here to tell the world that we did everything right. That we, the United States, did everything right. That Israel did everything right, ”Pompeo said, looking at the area of the Syrian part of the Golan. The Secretary of State added that every nation has the right to defend its sovereignty.
Palestinian representatives have accused representatives of the administration of US President Donald Trump of creating one last illegal precedent and violating international law. It is known that Palestine is ready for a dialogue with the most likely American leader Joe Biden, who has not yet talked about canceling any Trump decisions on the Golan issue.
On March 25, 2019, US President Donald Trump signed a decree recognizing Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights by Washington. Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Washington's actions are contrary to UN Security Council resolutions.
Pompeo then explained why Washington refused to recognize Crimea as Russian, while recognizing the Golan Heights as Israeli territory. He stated an “obviously different” situation. “We just acknowledged the reality on earth and the history that existed in this particular place,” Pompeo said.
Belonging to Syria since 1944, the Golan was captured by Israel during the 1967 Six Day War. The Israeli parliament in 1981 passed the Golan Heights Act, which unilaterally proclaimed the country's sovereignty over the territory.
