Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett stated on Monday that Israel will retain the Golan Heights, which it seized in the 1967 war, even if international stances towards Damascus change. In 2019, President Donald Trump diverged from other global powers by recognizing Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights, which Israel annexed in 1981, a move not recognized by the world.
Bennett's remarks come at a time when the current U.S. administration is reconsidering the legal status of the Golan Heights, amidst some Arab countries allied with the U.S. softening their rejection of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad due to his handling of the ongoing civil war in his country that has lasted for ten years.
Speaking at a conference on the future of the Golan, Bennett said that the internal Syrian conflict "has convinced many in the world that perhaps it is better for this beautiful and strategic land to be in the hands of the State of Israel." He added before the forum hosted by the conservative Makor Rishon newspaper, "But even if, as may happen, the world changes its position on Syria or regarding Assad, it will not affect the Golan Heights. The Golan Heights are Israeli, end of story."
Assad's grip on power has not been significantly altered by his two-decade presidency renewed in May elections, which did little to change his rejected status in the West. However, his Arab leaders are dealing with the reality that he maintains a strong hold on power. Geopolitical considerations contribute to their recalibrations, including Russia's demands, which supports Assad, to preserve the unity of Syrian territories, and Washington's commitment to a more hands-off regional approach, along with the Arabs' desire to counter Iranian and Turkish influence in Damascus.
While not changing its policy, President Joe Biden's administration is being cautious regarding the issue of the Golan Heights, describing Israeli control over it as de facto rather than de jure. When asked in a February interview whether Washington would continue to consider the Golan part of Israel, Secretary of State Antony Blinken indicated openness to reviewing the final policy regarding territory that most countries consider to be under occupation. He added to CNN, "As long as Assad remains in power in Syria, and as long as Iran's presence in Syria and Iranian-backed militias continue... I think the control of the Golan in this situation remains of real significance for Israel's security." He went on to say, "Legal matters are another thing. Over time, if the situation in Syria changes, that is something we will look at."
In his speech, Bennett pledged to double the current Israeli population in the Golan, which currently equals the size of the Druze Arab community that often declares loyalty to Syria.
