Jerusalem (AFP) – US President Donald Trump will sign an order recognising Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights when he meets Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington on Monday, Israel’s foreign minister said.“President Trump will sign tomorrow in the presence of PM Netanyahu an order recognising Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights,” Foreign Minister Israel Katz wrote on Twitter on Sunday. Again breaking with longstanding international consensus, Trump said on Thursday that the United States should acknowledge Israeli sovereignty over the strategic plateau it seized from Syria in the 1967 Six-Day War. He however left unanswered if or when he would follow through with an order to do so. Netanyahu has long pushed for such recognition, and many analysts saw Trump’s statement, which came in a tweet, as a campaign gift ahead of Israel’s April 9 polls. The prime minister is locked in tough election campaign with a centrist … [Read more...] about Israel says Trump to recognise Golan as its territory Monday
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Israel says Trump to sign Golan sovereignty decree on Monday
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump will on Monday sign a decree recognising Israeli sovereignty on the Golan Heights while hosting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, Israel's acting foreign minister said. A senior U.S. official said last week that the Trump administration was preparing an official document to codify support for Israel's annexation of the strategic plateau that it seized from Syria in the 1967 Middle East war. "Tomorrow, President Trump, in the presence of PM Netanyahu, will sign a decree recognising Israel's sovereignty on the Golan. Israel-U.S. ties are closer than ever," Acting Foreign Minister Israel Katz tweeted on Sunday. The United Nations considers the Israeli-held Golan to be occupied territory. (Writing by Dan Williams; Editing by Alison Williams) … [Read more...] about Israel says Trump to sign Golan sovereignty decree on Monday
Israel Thanks Trump as Iran Sanctions Take Effect
JERUSALEM (AFP) – Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman welcomed US sanctions that took effect Monday targeting Iran’s oil and financial sectors, calling it a “critical” blow to Tehran’s actions in the region. “President (Donald) Trump’s bold decision is the sea-change the Middle East has been waiting for,” Lieberman said in a statement.“In a single move, the United States is dealing a critical blow to Iran’s entrenchment in Syria, Lebanon, Gaza, Iraq and Yemen. President Trump, you’ve done it again! Thank you.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday also thanked Trump for the sanctions against his country’s main enemy. The measures described by Washington as “the toughest sanctions ever” follow Trump’s controversial decision in May to abandon the multi-nation nuclear deal with Tehran. They aim to significantly reduce Iran’s oil exports — which have already … [Read more...] about Israel Thanks Trump as Iran Sanctions Take Effect
Israel defends Trump amid synagogue shooting criticism
Updated 4:27 am PDT, Wednesday, October 31, 2018 President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump walk into Pittsburgh's Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018, with Ivanka Trump, back left, and Jared Kushner and Tree of Life Rabbi Jeffrey Myers, back right, and Ron Dermer, Israel's ambassador to the United States. less President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump walk into Pittsburgh's Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018, with Ivanka Trump, back left, and Jared Kushner and Tree of Life Rabbi ... more Photo: Andrew Harnik, AP Photo: Andrew Harnik, AP Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Image 1 of 1 President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump walk into Pittsburgh's Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018, with Ivanka Trump, back left, and … [Read more...] about Israel defends Trump amid synagogue shooting criticism
US downgrades Jerusalem diplomatic mission to Palestinians
WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States on Thursday downgraded the status of its main diplomatic mission to the Palestinians by placing it under the authority of the U.S. Embassy to Israel. The move, which was immediately denounced by the Palestinians and hailed by Israel, is the latest Trump administration decision to align with Israeli government views and a victory for U.S. Ambassador David Friedman. He had long sought to end the Jerusalem consulate’s independent status but had faced resistance from within the State Department. Friedman’s push picked up steam in May after the Trump administration moved the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem over the vehement objections of the Palestinians, who claim the eastern part of the holy city as the capital of an eventual state. The consulate had for years served as a de facto embassy to the Palestinians but will now be known as the Palestinian Affairs Unit of the embassy to Israel. It will remain in its current location, at … [Read more...] about US downgrades Jerusalem diplomatic mission to Palestinians