Iran to ‘resist’ Trump decision on Israel’s hold over Golan
Visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Donald Trump hold up the signed proclamation recognizing Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights as Netanyahu leaves the White House in Washington, Monday, March 25, 2019. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) – Iran’s president said Friday that Iranians would “resist” the Trump administration’s acceptance of Israel’s control over the occupied Golan Heights, adding his voice to many Arab nations, including a number of U.S. allies, who have denounced the U.S. decision.
Hassan Rouhani said the U.S. move is “trampling on international regulations about the Golan.” Iranians too “should resist and that way gain victory” over the U.S. and Israel, he said.
Israel seized the Golan in the 1967 Mideast war after Syria had for years used the strategic plateau to shell northern Israel.
President Donald Trump’s formal recognition last week of Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan sparked widespread international condemnation. The announcement was a major shift in American policy and gave Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a needed political boost ahead of April elections.
Syria and many Arab states slammed Trump’s move.
Meeting in the Turkish Mediterranean coastal city of Antalya on Friday, the Turkish and Russian foreign ministers also denounced the decision.
“I feel this is the conscious, deliberate demonstration of permissiveness,” Russia’s Sergei Lavrov told reporters at a joint news conference. “Such demonstration of permissiveness, along with intimidations, ultimatums, and sanctions, are basically the toolkit which the U.S. use in foreign policy. It is sad.”
Turkey’s top diplomat, Mevlut Cavusoglu, said the decision “does not add to the region’s peace and stability, on the contrary, it creates unrest and chaos in the region.”
“It is out of the question for us to accept and recognize such a decision,” he added.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Thursday the decision is a reminder to Arab and Muslim countries that U.S. and Israel “will steal your lands.”
Iran doesn’t recognize Israel and supports Syria and anti-Israeli militant groups like Hamas and the Lebanese Hezbollah group.
Source: https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/mar/29/iran-to-resist-trump-decision-on-israels-hold-over/