Turkey Says US Has No Right to Give Golan to Israel

Speaking at an election rally in Istanbul, Erdogan said US President Donald Trump asked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to come the United States and signed a proclamation on the Golan Heights because of the elections in Israel, implying that Trump's move was made to ensure more electoral support for Netanyahu, Anadolu Agency reported.

He added the Golan Heights completely belongs to Syria according to UN resolutions and the US is attempting to give this territory to Israel, stating, "You do not have jurisdiction or a right like that."

Erdogan said the US move on the Golan Heights is not recognized by the European Union, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Russia or China, stating, "Speaking the truth with courage is our duty."

The Turkish president added that Turkey, as the term president of the OIC, responded to the US move on the Golan Heights and will also respond in the future.

On Monday, Trump signed a presidential proclamation officially recognizing the Golan Heights as Israeli territory.

The UN announced that the Golan Heights is still considered an “occupied territory” under international law, despite Trump’s announcement.

Israel occupied the Golan Heights during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. It continues to occupy roughly two-thirds of the wider Golan Heights region as a direct result of the conflict. In 1981, Israel formally annexed the territory in a move unanimously rejected at the time by the UN Security Council.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the decision of the United States to recognize the sovereignty of Israel over the Golan Heights.

"We deplore and strongly condemn the decision of the US Administration to recognize Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights, held under Israeli occupation since 1967. This unfortunate decision, which constitutes a grave violation of international law, particularly the United Nations Security Council Resolution 497 (1981), demonstrates that the US Administration continues its approach to be part of the problem, rather than part of the solution in the Middle East", the foreign ministry said in a statement.

It added that Trump’s decision was null and void for Turkey.

"Instead of further destabilizing the region with futile attempts to justify Israel's acts against international law, it is an essential responsibility of all members of the international community to comply with the fundamental principles of the UN Charter and UN Security Council Resolutions", the statement read.

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