Trump formally recognises Israel’s authority on Golan Heights

President Trump signed a proclamation on Monday formally recognizing Israel’s authority over the long-disputed Golan Heights, handing the pen to his grateful guest, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel.

Mr. Trump’s decision, first announced last week, reverses decades of American policy and is starkly at odds with international law. But it is a valuable political gift to Mr. Netanyahu a few weeks before he faces voters in Israel in a closely fought election.

“Today I am taking historic action to promote Israel’s ability to defend itself,” Mr. Trump said, “and really to have a very powerful, very strong national security, which they’re entitled to have.”

Israel’s permanent sovereignty over the Golan Heights was vital, he said, because otherwise, Iran and Iranian-backed militants operating in southern Syria would use the territory as a launching pad for attacks on Israeli towns.

Via NYT