credit: europeanunion /  European Union’s Foreign Affairs Chief Federica Mogherini 

DIPLOMATIC  TIMES  STAFF

The European Union will not recognize Israeli sovereignty over the occupied Golan Heights, the EU’s foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini’s office said in a statement Wednesday.  The announcement came just days after U.S. President Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and signed a presidential proclamation officially recognizing the occupied Syrian Golan Heights as Israeli territory.

“The position of the European Union as regards the status of the Golan Heights has not changed.”

Federica Mogherini statement  on behalf of EU. 

 The EU stated it is in line with the international law and UN Security Council resolutions 242 and 497,  and does not recognize Israeli sovereignty over the occupied Golan Heights.

Declaration by the High Representative @FedericaMog on behalf of the EU on the #GolanHeights:

The position of the EU has not changed. The EU does not recognise Israeli sovereignty over the occupied Golan Heights.

Full text: https://t.co/iJAUESEXiQ

— EU Council Press (@EUCouncilPress) March 27, 2019

The EU will not recognize any changes to the pre-1967 borders including with regard to Jerusalem, other than those agreed by the parties.  Israel’s move has not been recognised internationally, and three UN Security Council resolutions have called for it to withdraw from the territory.

It is worth noting that  the U.S. is the only country in the world besides Israel to recognize the annexed territory, which comprises the western two-thirds of the Golan.

Trump’s move was condemned strongly by Syria and its allies Russia and Iran, as well as by the president of Turkey.

“Unfortunately, Trump is behaving like a bully boy. He did the same on Jerusalem.”

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told A Haber television.