Draft US Senate Resolution Seeks Recognition Of Israeli Rule In Golan Heights - Lawmakers

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 19th December, 2018) A draft resolution introduced in the US Senate calls on the United States government to recognize Israel's sovereignty over the occupied Golan Heights, Senators Ted Cruz and Tom Cotton said on Tuesday.

"Israel gained possession over the Golan Heights in a defensive war over 50 years ago, and has responsibly controlled the area ever since," the lawmakers said in a joint release announcing the resolution. "It's past time for the United States to recognize reality by affirming Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights.

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Israel gained control of the Syrian territory on the northern Israeli border during the 1967 war.

The legislation argues that Israel cannot guarantee secure itself from possible attacks from Syria and Lebanon unless it maintains control over the Golan Heights.

The resolution in part aims to punish Syrian President Bashar Assad for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Syrian civilians during his nation's civil war by recognizing Israeli ownership of the Golan, the release said.