We’re back in full-on Obama mode now, betraying allies and giving aid and comfort to enemies. It will not, of course, end well.
“Biden Admin Walks Back U.S. Recognition of Golan Heights as Israeli Territory,” by Adam Kredo, Washington Free Beacon, June 24, 2021:
The Biden administration is walking back the United States’ historic recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the contested Golan Heights region along Israel’s northern border, a significant blow to the Jewish state and one of the Trump administration’s signature foreign policy decisions.
The Trump administration declared the territory—seized by Israel from Syria in 1967 and later annexed by the country—to be wholly part of the Jewish state in 2019. Then-secretary of state Mike Pompeo took a trip to the area in 2020 and reaffirmed that America formally abandoned a decades-long policy of considering the area occupied.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken first raised questions about the Biden administration’s view on the matter in February, when he would not say if his State Department continues to abide by the former administration’s decision. At the time, Blinken would only say the Golan Heights “remains of real importance to Israel’s security,” but that its formal status remains unclear. Pressed on the issue by the Washington Free Beacon, a State Department official said the territory belongs to no one and control could change depending on the region’s ever-shifting dynamics.
The shift in policy is already causing outrage among Republican lawmakers who backed the Trump administration’s decision and hoped to see it continue. It is also likely to rankle Israeli leaders of all political stripes, the plurality of whom say the Golan Heights is absolutely vital to Israel’s security in light of persistent threats from the Iran-backed Hezbollah terror group in Lebanon and other militant forces stationed in war-torn Syria.
“The secretary was clear that, as a practical matter, the Golan is very important to Israel’s security,” a State Department official told the Free Beacon. “As long as [Bashar al-Assad] is in power in Syria, as long as Iran is present in Syria, militia groups backed by Iran, the Assad regime itself—all of these pose a significant security threat to Israel, and as a practical matter, the control of the Golan remains of real importance to Israel’s security.”
Recognizing Israel’s control as a “practical matter,” however, falls far short of the formal policy change ordered by the Trump administration, which became the first government to recognize Israel’s complete control over the territory. As it stands now, U.S. policy on the matter is unclear, at best.
Pompeo, who was central to formulating and advancing the Trump administration’s decision on the Golan Heights, told the Free Beacon that the current administration is jeopardizing Israel’s security at a time when Iran-backed militants continue to plot attacks on the country’s northern cities.
“The Golan Heights are not occupied by Israel, they are a part of it. The Israelis have a right to it as sovereign land,” Pompeo told the Free Beacon. “To suggest that these lands should be returned to Syria, even if conditioned on changes in the Syrian regime, is inconsistent with both Israeli security and the international law.”
The State Department’s “suggestion that if Assad falls and the Iranians leave Syria, the Golan Heights should be given to Syria misreads history and misreads the eternal security needs of the state of Israel,” Pompeo said….
Ray Jarman says
Once again, Israel captured the territory after being attacked by Syria. If the Golan Heights is not recognized as Israeli, then Germany should be returned the land appropriated after WWI and WWII. The two primary nations that fought the hardest against Germany, Britain and the United States, only received very small plots where many of its fallen soldiers lay.
mortimer says
The handlers of Bribed-man and KamaSutra are IDIOTS. Mount Hermon is the highest mountain in the region.
Peace in the Middle East will not become safer if Mount Hermon is used as a GUN PLATFORM for Hizbollah !!!
Totally impractical, ivorytower idiots.
Ray Jarman says
I totally agree but my point is that it rightly belongs to Israel by rights of being captured after Israel was attacked. It seems that no one wishes to discuss this issue.
If one travels to Jordon and visits Kum Kaish (there is an old amphitheater from the Roman period) which overlooks the Sea of Galilee, he can see just how important the Golan Heights is to Israel’s defense.
gravenimage says
And I believe that the Golan Heights being part of Israel was part of the original Balfour Declaration.
Lawrence Kaplan says
This is not good for Isreal. If we look for WW2 examples the US more or less recognized Eastern Europe as defacto Soviet territory. Our state department doesn’t view Isreal as requiring more American commitments.
Brando says
There is one thing the LEFT is good at,it is GASLIGHTING ( form of psychological abuse where a person or group makes someone question their sanity, perception ).
It is possible Only Due to Ignorance of FIRST PRINCIPLES.
OPEN BORDERS and LIBERTARIANS /CLASSICAL LIBERALS
Leftists say if one is against a massive Muslim (anti-human rights group) entry,one is Against the Values of the Enlightenment.
1. Libertarians and Classical Liberals accept LOCKE’s affirmation that All have 3 Natural Rights: right to LIFE, and LIBERTY and PROPERTY
2. The Role of GOVERNMENT is Only to GUARANTEE those 3 natural rights.
3.And (this is the MOST important detail): the Most Important of the 3 that the Governement has to Guarantee …………..is the Right to LIFE
EXAMPLE (example given by JAVIER MILEI ( famous Argentine Libertarian) )
1. Suppose you have an accident and your wife is BLEEDING to DEATH and you see a man in a CAR.
2. You asked him politely to take you and her to the nearest hospital, but he REFUSES ( because he feels like it).
3. He can refuse because he has the Natural Right to His PROPERTY ( car). However,the Right to Life is More Important, so it is Justified(from a Libertarian pt of view)
to take the car by FORCE to save the wife’s life.
RESULT OF MASSIVE MUSLIM ENTRY
It results in high crime rates,murder,arson,rape,theft,and threats of violence( against Freedom of Speech). The GOVERNMENT has to place the Right to Life,and Quality of Life,
of its citizens ABOVE the concept of OPEN BORDERS.
If Open Borders results in attacks on the Right to LIFE and Right to FREEDOM and Right to PROPERTY,then according to FIRST PRINCIPLES,
elimination of Open Borders for Muslim “refugees”. In that CONTEXT it is NOT Contrary to the Values of the Enlightenment.
AND CONSERVATIVES?
Today (except for Neo-Nazi groups) all conservatives accept the 3 natural laws of Locke. There is a group of Libertarians who are to the RIGHT ( against abortion, legalizing cocaine,heroin, prostitution)
but who accept the 3 natural rights.They are the PALEOLIBERTARIANS ( ancient,old libertarians).
somehistory says
I guess I’m way, way to the “right”…and I believe I have “right” on my side; actually, that would be me on the side of “right.”
I was listening to a video of the reps from Texas and PA speak from the floor of an almost empty ‘house.’ One of them said when pelosi introduced a recent bill, she said, “If you are for this bill, you are against hate, but if you are against this bill, you are for hate.” Giving no chance for a difference of opinion or debate, trying to make the public believe that when someone disagrees with her and her henchmen/cohorts/gang, they are in favor of hating another for the color of their skin or, religion, etc.
Those who do not value the gifts our Creator gave us…”life” being the most important, are a pack of lying scum, just like their “father.” He lied to get his way, and they do the same thing.
Brando says
The distinction between Conservatives and Libertarians to the Right gets blurry since both affirm the 3 natural rights and
also on Adam Smith’s FREE MARKET/ laissez-faire capitalism ( but conditional on circumstances: as long as the free market does Not go Contrary to the 3 natural rights ).
So NO to having a WILD WEST scenario in the marketplace.
EDMUND BURKE ( 1729-1797)
He is the FATHER of Modern Conservatism,he was a member of the WHIG party ( Conservative) in the UK. And HE also affirmed:
1. The 3 natural rights of Locke.
2.He was Against SLAVERY and the Slave trade
3.He Supported the AMERICAN REVOLUTION ,their fight .
4.He was Against British Colonialism and Imperialism in INDIA
As you can see, the line between Conservative and Liberal is Quite Blurry and Fuzzy in his case.
He was also a devout Christian ( Anglican ) ,a real ANGLO-IRISH: his father was English and protestant,his mother was Irish and Catholic,and he himself was born in IRELAND.
He was in that sense a real Anglo-Irish,since he was a real mixture,not like the other Anglo-Irish (who were born in Ireland,but had not a drop of Irish blood):
that is to say general Wellington, the poet Yeats, C.S.Lewis ( of Narnia fame),
and Jonathan Swift ( wrote Gulliver’s travels), Oscar Wilde,George Bernard Shaw and the scientist Boyle.
BURKE ON THE FRENCH REVOLUTION
In 1790 he wrote a critique of it in the book “Reflections on the Revolution in France”. He PREDICTED it would result in Disaster and Calamity
and not betterment for the people since a POWER VACUUM had been created and usually,according to history, it is taken by the Worst Opportunists,Hucksters,Fanatics.
1. He was right:in 1793-1794 was the GREAT TERROR of Robespierre( death of 40,000 innocent people for being “anti-revolutionaries”).
2. And the massacre of 100,000 in the region of VENDEE ( 80% being women,children and elderly).
3. Later came NAPOLEON who betrayed the revolutionary ideals of 1789,became a dictator and later emperor,and his wars killed 3 MILLION.
Raja says
Somehistory,
I wonder since when “hate” became such obsessed word (of the Left) in public domain? Pelosi and her esteemed party has been using the word to the hilt and it has become quiet nauseating.
Have these holy people any evidence that hate per se is harmful for human mind or body?
I believe hating evil is an inextricable human quality.This link throws some more light on hate.
https://www.christiancourier.com/articles/652-does-the-bible-encourage-hatred
somehistory says
Raja
the Bible says that “God hates,” in the Book of Proverbs. And the Book of Psalms tells us, “Oh, you lovers of Jehovah, hate what is bad.”
those on the “left” know that many Christians read the Bible, but many do not read nor truly understand it, although they have been taught by their family to be a believer in Jesus Christ.
Those on the “left” then use the knowledge that Christians are commanded by Jesus to “love your neighbor” and use this as a weapon to twist and lie to get what they want. They want to give Christians a guilt trip…such as, “if you hate, you aren’t doing right, cause Jesus said to “love” and “turn the other cheek.”
On the mountain in the wilderness, satan twisted Scripture in order to try to get Jesus to do wrong, to commit suicide, to worship him, to show a lack of faith by using His power to make food for Himself.
satan quoted Bible verses, but used them wrongly. Just as those on the “left” do today….for the same reason, to cause people to sin, to confuse, to make Christians lack faith.
Whenever I see that someone is on the “left,” I recall what Christ said about the time when He will “separate the people from one another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats,” He puts the “goats” on His “left…and they go off into destruction.”
So, yes, we are to “hate what is bad.” From wherever it comes or in whatever form it comes.
gravenimage says
Yes–“hate” has become a greately misused word in the hands of the Left.
somehistory says
These jerks are wanting Israel to be insecure. That is their goal with regard to Israel. The blame for the killings, the refusal to sell what is needed to protect the citizens from hamas’ missiles, refusal of loans, giving hamas money to “rebuild”…knowing it will be used to “rebuild” the weapons of war…,giving the plo, er, the pa, money for the pa to “pay to slay,” and now taking back the recognition, while acknowledging that Israel needs it for security, makes it plain for everyone to see, “o” and his puppet have hamas’ and the other, numerous, terrorists’ back.
They can deny the Truth of a matter, as they are now, but it doesn’t change the Truth of the matter. It just shows their true colors regarding Truth and displays their goals.
VarAway says
I wonder if they are going to change their opinion if Israel would bring up the
Western Sahara to Blinken’s attention….?
Raja says
Why should anyone complain?
Didn’t Mr. Biden say America is back on 19 Feb? So watch out, America is getting back to some bottomless pit !
Raja says
Golan Heights should have never been considered occupied. Justice was done after so long by the Trump admin, consistent with the campaign theme of Trump that aggressor is not be recompensed with any land etc(as per international law)
In what way is Israel responsible for Arab war of 1967?
Walter Sieruk says
Joe Biden and his crew the so ignorant and godless that they neither know or care that the truth is the God had given all land that now composes the State of Israel, including all of the Golan Heights, to the Jewish people. This may be found in the Bible, as seen in, for example, Genesis 28:13-15. 35:10-12. Deuteronomy 32:48,49. Psalm 105:7-11. 135:4. In other words the Jews have all this land by Divine Right. Furthermore, the Jewish people should have this land by historic rights as shown in First Kings 4:20,21, 24,25. 8:55, 56.
gravenimage says
Biden’s handlers walk back Trump’s recognition of Golan Heights as Israeli territory
……………….
Sadly, I am not at all surprised.
Infidel says
So from now on, US foreign policy will swing wildly based on the party in power
SAFI says
Both the State Department and Israeli FM have denied the claim.
Israel FM Yair Lapid tweeted
“The Golan Heights is a strategic asset and an integral part of the sovereign State of Israel. The United States recognized our sovereignty over the Golan Heights and its strategic importance to Israel’s security. Anyone who spreads rumors of the cancelation of this recognition harms security, undermines the declaration of sovereignty, and is willing (not for the first time) to cause real damage to the State of Israel and jeopardize its security and relations with the United States, only to undermine the new government.”
https://twitter.com/yairlapid/status/1408411448372563970
JihadWatch should retract.
gravenimage says
SAFI, the Washington Free Beacon quotes a US State Department official on the issue.
Jihad Watch can not retract that fact.
SAFI says
Israel’s MFA has denied these rumors
SAFI says
As did the US State Dept apparently
https://twitter.com/StateDept_NEA/status/1408421393671372801
O' Help says
Does it really matter? Whatever Biden and his cohorts say doesn’t matter. Has Israel relinquished The Gollan Heights? Even if they say the whole land of Israel belongs to the Palestinians and the likes, does it make it so? The Anvil will surely outlive the hammers. Whatever Biden’s agenda are, he too in no distant time will become history. So, let him beware. Yes, history only to be read on the pages of paper, either he has done good or bad.