Turkey Condemns US Attempts To Legitimize Israeli Occupation Of Golan Heights - Cavusoglu

ANKARA (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 22nd March, 2019) The US attempts to legitimize Israeli policy of occupation of the Golan Heights, which undermines the Syrian territorial integrity, are not in line with the international law and condemned by Ankara, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Thursday.

Earlier in the day, US President Donald Trump said in a statement that it was time for the United States to fully recognize Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights.

"The territorial integrity of states is the most fundamental principle of international law. Attempts by the #US to legitimize #Israel's actions against international law will only lead to more violence and pain in the region. Turkey supports #Syria's territorial integrity," Cavusoglu wrote on his Twitter page.

The similar position was voiced by Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin.

"The territorial integrity of countries is protected under int'l law. The US government's @realDonaldTrump attempts to legitimate Israel's illegal actions towards Golan Heights mean nothing but supporting Israel's policy of occupation and deepening the conflict in the region," Kalin wrote on his Twitter page.

The Golan Heights was seized by Israel from Syria during the Six-Day War in 1967. In 2018, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution urging Israel to immediately withdraw its forces from the Golan Heights after Tel Aviv organized local elections in the area on October 30.