Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants to give Trump the name of a municipality on the Golan Heights. This should be the US President for his "historic decision" to be thanked, said the head of the Israeli government. Trump had recognized Israel's sovereignty over the strategically important area in March.
For a long time, the head of the Israeli government had sought to have the area recognized as Israeli. Israel conquered the original Syrian Golan Heights in 1967 during the Six-Day War and annexed the area in 1981. Internationally, however, the area claim was not recognized. According to international law, the territories are considered Israeli-occupied territory of Syria.
USA: Golan Heights "controlled by Israel"
Recently, the US State Department changed its wording on the status of the Golan Heights. In a report on the human rights situation in Israel, the ministry described the areas as "controlled by Israel." Last year, both the Golan Heights and the 1967 conquered West Bank and Gaza Strip areas were still considered "occupied" by Israel.
Now, the Israeli PM announced that he wanted to bring forward a resolution demanding "to name a new commune on the Golan Heights after President Donald J. Trump." It was necessary to show the gratitude of his country.
Israel's government appreciates Trump's policy
Trump's Middle East policy receives much applause from the right-wing conservative government in Israel. Netanyahu praises the decision to relocate the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and the US withdrawal from the nuclear deal with Iran.
In addition, the US stopped its payments to UNRWA, a Palestinian UN refugee agency serving around five million people, and closed the US Consulate General for the Palestinians in East Jerusalem.