In a contentious foreign policy move and violating UN mandates, US President Donald Trump formally recognised Israel's sovereignty over the illegally occupied Golan Heights on March 25, 2019. Trump's action reversed more than half a century of US policy towards the Middle East and commitments made by former Presidents.
Israel captured parts of the Golan Heights during the 1967 Six-Day War against Syria and in December 1981, illegally annexed the occupied area. But the annexation was never recognised internationally. The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in a unanimous Resolution (No. 497) declared on December 17, 1981: "The Israeli decision to impose its laws, jurisdiction, and administration in the occupied Syrian Golan Heights is null and void and without international legal effect." Now, the US has become the first nation to recognise Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights.
President Trump's extraordinary decision has been bitterly criticised by 14 other permanent and non-permanent members of the UN Security Council.
While Muslim-majority nations are generally hesitant to reprimand the US openly, more than a dozen of them have instantly responded angrily at Trump's decision. They include: Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Indonesia, Iran, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Syria, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a US ally, was the first country to react on March 26. It rejected Trump's declaration and asserted that the Golan Heights belong to Syria. The Saudi Media Minister Turki Al-Shabana further commented, "It will have significant negative effects on the peace process in the Middle East and the security and stability of the region."
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stressed that Golan Heights solely belongs to Syria. He added that "the US move on the Golan Heights is not recognised by the European Union (EU), the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Russia or China."
Indonesia also rejected Trump's controversial decision. Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement (March 26) said: "This recognition is not conducive to efforts towards creating peace and regional stability."
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani observed: "No one could imagine that a person in America comes and gives land of a nation to another occupying country, against international laws and conventions ... Such action is unprecedented in the current century."
Similarly, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation asserted: "The US move will definitely undermine the possibility of reaching a just and comprehensive peace in the region."
The Syrian Foreign Ministry denounced the decision as "blatant attack" on its sovereignty and territorial integrity and a "humiliating blow to the international community." A large number of Syrians also staged demonstrations across the country against Trump's decision.
The 22-member Arab League in a statement held: "The American announcement does not change the legal status of the Golan in any way."
The analysts decried it as a "dangerous precedent" and cautioned that Trump's Golan move would probably weaken universal prohibitions on securing territory by force.
Trump's move has apparently provided Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a political reward ahead of the April 09 Israeli elections. But this would undoubtedly create more uncertainty and hinder mediations towards long-term peace, security and stability in the Middle East.
Dr. Kamal Uddin Ahmed is a former Professor and Chairman, Department of Political Science, University of Dhaka.