EU Opposes Trump's Recognition of Golan as Israeli

Nawal Sayed

By Nawal Sayed

CAIRO, March 27 (SEE) – Five European Union allies of the United States are reiterating their opposition to President Donald Trump's recognition of Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights and raising "strong concerns" about the consequences.

In a joint statement issued Tuesday, ambassadors from the five EU members of the U.N. Security Council — France, Germany, Britain, Poland and Belgium stressed that they don't recognize Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights.

"Annexation of territory by force is prohibited under international law," and any unilateral border changes go against "the rules-based international order and the U.N. Charter," the statement read.

The statement concluded "We raise our strong concerns about broader consequences of recognizing illegal annexation and also about the broader regional consequences."

On her part, a spokeswoman for EU Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini, Maya Kosyanchich, said in a different statement that “The European Union, in accordance with international law, does not recognize Israel’s sovereignty over the territories it occupied since July 1967, including the Golan Heights, and does not consider them as part of Israeli territory."

European Council President Donald Tusk reiterated this position, also saying that the EU is holding its line on the Golan Heights.

“The EU’s position is well-known and has not changed,” Tusk added.

Earlier this week, Trump wrote on Twitter that it is time to “fully” recognize Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights because it is of “critical strategic and security importance to the State of Israel and regional stability.”

Turkey, Iran, and Syria have condemned Trump's statement, while Russia voiced hope Trump's comment will remain "just a call."