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Arab Condemnations as Netanyahu Thanks Colombia for Recognizing Sovereignty over Occupied Golan
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Colombia in a video this evening for recognizing Israel's sovereignty over the occupied Golan and also thanked U.S. President Donald Trump, presenting the move as a political achievement. Netanyahu said the Golan "is fundamental to our security and the Israeli flag flies here because this is our land," noting historical ties he traced back to the days of Moses and dozens of churches restored up to the eighth century. He asserted that the Golan "has returned to us and will remain ours forever," calling Trump's recognition "an important first step" and Colombia's recognition "a second step."
The Syrian Foreign Ministry strongly condemned Colombia's recognition of what it called "Israel's sovereignty over the occupied Syrian Golan," saying the Colombian position "constitutes a blatant violation of the UN Charter and UN Security Council Resolution 497 of 1981," which affirmed the illegality of Israel imposing its laws, jurisdiction, and administration over the occupied Golan and declared such measures null and void with no international legal effect.
Several Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Qatar, also denounced Colombia's recognition of Israeli control over the Golan Heights, stressing that aiding the occupation to disregard relevant UN decisions—particularly Resolution 497—does not change the fact that the plateau is occupied Arab land, and that imposing Israeli laws and administration on the Golan is null, void, and without legal effect.
