Netanyahu: ‘The Golan Heights will forever remain in Israeli hands’

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said yesterday that Israel will never relinquish control of the occupied Golan Heights, Israeli media reported.

Speaking during the first weekly cabinet meeting held in the occupied area which borders Syria, Netanyahu continued: “I chose to have this festive cabinet meeting on the Golan Heights to send a clear message: the Golan Heights will forever remain in Israeli hands.”

“It’s time that the international community recognise two fundamental facts; first, no matter what happens on the other side of the border, the line itself isn’t going to change. Second, it’s time, after 50 years, that the international community finally recognise that the Golan will remain forever under Israel’s sovereignty.”

Israel occupied the Golan Heights during the 1967 war and declared it part of Israel in 1981 – a move the international community did not recognise.

According to the Israeli news website Ynet News, Netanyahu vowed to keep supporting and strengthening the Israeli residents of the occupied Golan Heights.