Trump announced his support for the contested region in an unexpected move from the president. Despite Trump’s emphatic tweet, Russian lawmaker’s have already rejected the move that was declared during Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s visit to Jerusalem. Turkish foreign minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu insisted that any move to confirm Israel’s claims to the territory would only “lead to more violence”.
In his bold tweet, Trump said: “After 52 years it is time for the United States to fully recognise Israel’s Sovereignty over the Golan Heights, which is of critical strategic and security importance to the State of Israel and Regional Stability!”
The territory was seized from Syria following the 1967 Six Day War and was unofficially annexed by the country in 1981.
Although it was not a formal annexation, the region undertook Israeli laws and jurisdiction.
In response to Trump’s Tweet, Russian MP, Oleg Morzov said: “Russia will never agree to recognising Israeli sovereignty in the Golan.
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“Trump is damaging the international community and the Arab world.”
With ISIS on the verge of defeat, the spotlight in the region has returned back to Israel’s clashes with Syria.
Earlier this year, Israel and Iran came perilously to war as the two exchanged attacks in the contested region.
Israeli forced bombed Iranian targets in Syria after carrying out daylight attacks near Damascus.
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The Israeli airstrikes come after Iranian forces fired missiles into Israel.
Mr Morzov also added that Trump’s move to was “a blow to Syria and its partnership with Russia”.
Turkey which supports Syrian territorial integrity initially backed the US at the start of the Syrian crisis but has grown further away from the US over their differing stances over Bashir al-Assad.
Mr Cavusoglu added: “Attempts by the U.S. to legitimize Israel’s actions against international law will only lead to more violence and pain in the region.”