Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that the Golan Heights belong to Israel and that the Israeli flag will continue to fly in this territory. “The Israeli flag flies here and will continue to fly, because this is our land. Today it is ours, it has returned to be ours, and it will always be ours,” he said.
The Golan Heights are a strategic territory in southwestern Syria, bordering Israel. Israel took control of most of the Golan during the 1967 Six-Day War and annexed it in 1981, a move that is not recognized by most of the international community.
The territory is of great strategic importance due to its high position above the Galilee and parts of Syria, as well as for its water resources and agricultural lands. The heights extend over about 1,800 square kilometers, while the part under Israeli control is about 1,200 square kilometers. According to Israel, control of the Golan is essential for the country’s security.
Syria, meanwhile, considers the territory occupied and demands its return. In 2019, the United States, under President Donald Trump, recognized Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights. However, the United Nations and most states continue to consider the territory occupied by Syria.
Netanyahu’s statement comes at a sensitive period for relations between Israel and Syria, making the Golan issue one of the main security and territorial topics in the region. /Telegraph