Syrians condemn Trump's decision on Golan Heights

People in Syria have staged protest rallies to denounce the recent decision by US President Donald Trump to recognize Israeli “sovereignty” over the part of Golan Heights that has been under Israeli occupation since 1967.

News ID: 444101

Date: 02 April 2019 - 19:14

RNA - The fresh rallies took place in the Syrian capital, Damascus, as well as some other cities on Sunday, the official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported.

Hundreds of people gathered in the different neighborhoods of Damascus and its countryside to denounce Trump’s decision. The protesters declared that Israel’s move to annex the occupied region was “null and void.” They pledged to return the territory to the Syrian motherland.

Rallies were also held in the southwestern Sweida and eastern Dayr al-Zawr provinces.

In Sweida, protesters gathered in front of a Journalists’ Syndicate branch, where they chanted anti-US and anti-Israeli slogans and hailed their fellow citizens’ resistance in the occupied Golan region.

In Dayr al-Zawr, people gathered at al-Saiyed al-Raees Square to censure Trump’s move, stressing that “it violates the international law and serves the interests of Israeli entity.”

People in occupied Golan denounce Trump

In a protest organized in the occupied village of Buqaatha on Saturday, the people of the occupied Golan said Trump’s declaration “violates international law and UN resolutions.”

The participants, who included people from the villages of Buqaatha, Majdal Chams, Masaada, and Ein Qunya affirmed their “adherence to their Syrian identity and to their homeland.” They also asserted that “Golan will remain an integral part of Syria” despite US and Israeli attempts.

Trump signed a proclamation recognizing Israeli “sovereignty” over the occupied Golan on Monday, triggering a global outcry. He signed the text at the start of a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House.

Since then, the US has become the subject of rounds of furor by world countries.

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem swiftly condemned the move and said the recognition would not change the fact that the Golan Heights are part of Syrian soil.

Iran, Turkey, Lebanon, Russia, and some European Union states also rejected Trump’s latest move.

In 1967, Israel waged a full-scale war against Arab territories, during which it occupied a large swathe of Golan and annexed it in 1981, a move never recognized by the international community.

Syria has repeatedly reaffirmed its sovereignty over the Golan Heights, saying the territory must be completely restored to its control.

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