Moussa Calls for Coordination with Assad to Protect Golan

By Nawal Sayed

CAIRO, March 22 (SEE) – Former Secretary General of the League of Arab States Amr Moussa condemned the US President Trump statements on recognizing the Golan Heights as an Israeli territory and called for coordination with the Syrian government, headed by President Bashar Al-Assad.

“After 52 years it is time to build peace and avoid all what would further inflame the situation,” Moussa tweeted on Friday.

The Egyptian diplomat stated that “Israel has no right to sovereignty over the Golan to be recognized, it is an occupying power, a status recognized by international law and the UNSC resolutions.”

“Legitimizing acquisition of territories by war is a blow to stability and prospects of a political settlement of the Arab Israeli conflict.”

He hoped that Trump’s tweet “will remain a tweet for whatever purposes it was intended for, and not to turn into a policy or a law which would have grave consequences on peace, security and stability in the entire region.”

Moussa suggested a quick coordination between the Arab League and the Syrian government. “The Arab Summit, which will take place in Tunisia next week, must discuss these developments and resort to the UN Security Council to preserve the Syrian rights.”

“After 52 years it is time for the United States to fully recognize Israel’s Sovereignty over the Golan Heights, which is of critical strategic and security importance to the State of Israel and Regional Stability!” Trump tweeted on Thursday.

On its part, Egypt and Jordan issued official statements on Friday condemning and rejecting the US move.

“Cairo calls on the international community to abide by the international laws and not allowing the seizure of territories,” Egypt’s foreign ministry stated in a statement.

Moreover, the Arab League, European Union, Germany, Turkey, France, and Syrian President Al-Assad’s allies of Russia, and Iran rejected US decision, saying that such decision violates the international laws.

Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Abu el-Gheit said the US decision is “illegal and groundless Germany described Trump’s remarks as “unilateral steps.”

Golan Heights,  located in western south of Syria, were occupied by Israeli forces during Arab-Israel War in 1967.

In 1981, Israel announced the annexation of Golan Heights to its lands, the move has not been recognized yet by the International Community and annulled by the UN Security Council Resolution.