World

Israel Names Golan Heights Settlement After President Trump

ā€˜RAMAT TRUMPā€™

Most of the international community does not recognize Israel's sovereignty over the area.

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Ammar Awad/Reuters

Israel has officially named a settlement in the contested Golan Heights territory after President Trump. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gathered with U.S. Ambassador David Friedman on Sunday to inaugurate the name, made in appreciation for Trumpā€™s recognition of Israelā€™s claim to sovereignty over the the strategic mountainous plateau. Trump signed an executive order recognizing the area as Israeli territory in March. Israel captured Golan Heights from Syria in 1967 and annexed it in 1981. The international community largely does not recognize Israelā€™s sovereignty over the region. ā€œIt is simply obvious, it is indisputable and beyond any reasonable debate,ā€ Friedman said at the ceremony.

Israel hopes the now rebranded ā€œRamat Trump,ā€ Hebrew for ā€œTrump Heights,ā€ will encourage new residents to move to the Golan settlement, which currently has a population of 10 people. At the ceremony, Netanyahu called Trump a ā€œgreat friend.ā€ ā€œThe Golan Heights was and will always be an inseparable part of our country and homeland,ā€ the prime minister said. ā€œItā€™s absolutely beautiful,ā€ said Ambassador Friedman. Noting that Trump celebrated his birthday on Friday, he added: ā€œI canā€™t think of a more appropriate and a more beautiful birthday present.ā€

Read it at Associated Press

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