Turkey condemns Colombia's recognition of Israel sovereignty over Golan Heights
Colombia, shortly after the swearing-in of conservative Abelardo de la Espriella as president on Friday, became just the second country to recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, which Israel captured during the 1967 Middle East war and later annexed in 1981.
The United States, during the first term of President Donald Trump, was the first, reversing more than a half-century of U.S. policy in the Middle East. De la Espriella, a Colombian-American citizen, received Trump’s backing during his election campaign.
Turkey condemned the decision by Colombia's new government, calling it a move to “legitimize Israel’s occupation” of the territory.
Turkey's Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the Golan Heights are an "integral part of Syria” and said Colombia’s move constitutes “a grave violation of international law.”
The United Nations recognizes the territory as part of Syria.
The Turkish statement called on the international community to work toward ending Israel’s occupation of the Golan Heights and other parts of southern Syria.
Source: Associated Press
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