The European Union announced on Friday that it will not follow U.S. President Donald Trump’s lead and recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights.
“The European Union, in accordance with international law, does not recognize Israel’s sovereignty over the territories it occupied since July 1967, including the Golan Heights, and does not consider them as part of Israeli territory,” said Maya Kosyanchich, a spokeswoman for E.U. foreign-policy chief Federica Mogherini, in a statement reported by multiple media outlets.
Germany is a member of the European Union.
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Trump tweeted on Thursday his support for Israel to remain in control over the strategic Golan Heights region.
“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!”
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Over the phone, Netanyahu told Trump, “You made history,” the prime minister said in a joint press conference on Thursday with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who met with Netanyahu in Jerusalem to discuss issues such as the Iranian threat.
Fox News reported that the president is expected to apply the tweet to an executive order that he will sign next week, making the recognition official. This could occur when Netanyahu visits with the president on Monday and Tuesday at the White House.
Netanyahu is also scheduled to address the annual AIPAC Policy Conference, which takes place from March 24-26, just weeks before Israelis go to the polls on April 9.