President Trump said his announcement that the U.S. would move to recognize Israeli sovereignty of the Golan Heights was all about security and not about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s upcoming election.
In an interview on Fox Business Network’s “Mornings with Maria” set to air Friday, Trump told Maria Bartiromo that he had been thinking about recognizing Israeli sovereignty of the Golan Heights for a while.
“I’ve been thinking about doing that for a long time, it’s been a very hard decision for every president, no president has done it. This is very much like Jerusalem, moving the embassy to Jerusalem, I did that,” Trump said. “… Golan Heights is the same thing. For years other presidents have campaigned, they said they’d do it, this is sovereignty, this is security, this is about regional security.”
When asked if the decision had anything to do with Netanyahu’s April 9 election, Trump vehemently denied that it did, saying he didn’t know much about the Israeli election.
“No, I wouldn’t even know about that. I wouldn’t even know about that. I have no idea, I hear he’s doing OK. I don’t know if he’s doing great right now, but I hear he’s doing OK,” Trump said. “But I would imagine the other side whoever’s against him is also in favor of what I just did.”
Netanyahu, who might be facing criminal corruption charges, is in the midst of a heated lead-up to the April election in which he faces former Army chief Benny Gantz of the Blue and White Party. Party leader Yair Lapid called the move by Trump “a dream come true,” according to the Jerusalem Post.
The prime minister has leaned heavily on Trump for support and maintains a close relationship with the administration.
The Golan Heights was captured by Israel from Syria in 1967, with de facto annexation of the region being approved in 1981. The region is of crucial security importance for Israel.
The prime minister will be spending time at the White House with Trump next week for two days of meetings.
