EU reiterates stance on occupied Golan Heights

By Yusuf Hatip

BRUSSELS (AA) - President of the European Council on Friday reiterated EU’s stance not to recognize Golan Heights in Syria as Israeli sovereignty despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent move on it.

"The European Union's position is well known and has not changed," Donald Tusk told a news conference after an EU summit in Brussels when asked about Trump’s move to fully recognize Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights.

The EU doesn't recognize the Golan Heights within the frame of Israeli sovereignty.

On Thursday, Trump said it was time for the U.S. to fully recognize Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights.

Israel seized the Golan Heights from Syria during the 1967 Six-Day War.

Israel occupies roughly two-thirds of the wider Golan Heights as a de facto result of the conflict. It moved to formally annex the territory in 1981 -- an action unanimously rejected at the time by the UN Security Council.

* Writing by Ali Murat Alhas