Ex-CIA Analyst Sees US Recognition of Golan Heights Annexation As Trump's Gift to Netanyahu before Election

Speaking in an exclusive interview with FNA, Paul Pillar said moving "the US embassy to Jerusalem and several measures aimed at making the Palestinians poorer and weaker” have been all gifts presented by the US president to Netanyahu.

He also said the recognition of the Golan Heights as Israeli is just the latest in this series of gifts.  

The full text of the interview follows:

Q: US President Donald Trump formally recognized Israeli sovereignty over the occupied Golan Heights. What do you think has motivated him to make such a decision?

A: President Trump has made a series of gifts to the Israeli government of Benjamin Netanyahu. These have included the move of the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem and several measures aimed at making the Palestinians poorer and weaker. Trump evidently believes that by doing whatever the Israeli government wants without demanding anything in return, he will appeal to voters and, most importantly, wealthy donors who also support whatever the Israeli government wants. The recognition of the Golan Heights as Israeli is just the latest in this series of gifts.  

Q: The timing of his decision is also a matter of question. What has persuaded the US President to declare this recognition now?

A: The timing clearly is related to the coming Israeli election and Netanyahu's need to get all the help he can get before the voting. Netanyahu is facing a serious electoral challenge from the Blue and White coalition while also facing the prospect of indictment for corruption. Netanyahu has repeatedly tried to help Republican candidates in U.S. elections, and now Trump is returning the favor. Netanyahu is able to point to the decision on Golan recognition and to tell Israeli voters that he is the leader who can get big favors from Washington.  

Q: What would be the possible impact of this decision on they peace process?

A: The status of Syrian territory does not affect directly any agreement to settle the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the prospects for such an agreement were already dim as long as Israel and the United States have their current leaders. To the extent the Golan move has any effect on the Israeli-Palestinian situation, it will make a peace agreement even less likely. Besides ensuring an indefinite continuation of the conflict between Israel and Syria -- a convenient excuse for Israel not to make progress toward peace with the Palestinians -- the move further reduces whatever credibility the United States otherwise might have had as an honest broker or mediator.

Q: How do you believe Palestinians would react to such a decision?

A: In addition to the United States clearly not being a neutral mediator, the Palestinians realize that U.S. recognition of Israeli annexation of the Golan may foreshadow Israeli annexation of parts of the West Bank.  Netanyahu already has made a statement that suggests his government is thinking along this line.

Q: What could be the possible impacts of this decision on the US-Arab relations?

A: It makes those relations worse. Arab countries already have denounced the move. On this question, the United States is isolated from not only the Arab countries but from almost everyone else in the world other than Israel. This isolation was demonstrated in a recent United Nations Security Council meeting that addressed the subject.

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