The Christian Science Monitor

Trump and the Golan: what it could mean, from Crimea to Kashmir

When President Donald Trump reversed 50 years of U.S. policy Monday to proclaim U.S. recognition of Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights – strategic territory seized from Syria in the 1967 war and occupied by Israel ever since – the move was both hailed and condemned.

Some of Israel’s most ardent supporters cheered the move, citing Iran’s presence in Syria and the security risks that poses. But critics said it dimmed the prospects of getting Arabs on board the long-awaited Middle East peace plan Mr. Trump could unveil in the coming weeks.

Still others labeled it a purely political gesture with no international validity, designed to boost the fortunes of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who

Question of precedentIn Europe, alarmAt times, Golan was in play

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from The Christian Science Monitor

The Christian Science Monitor4 min read
This Instructor Builds Confidence Among Maldivian Women, In The Water And Out
In the shallow, turquoise waters off Rasdhoo island, Aminath Zoona gathers a small group of adults – mostly women – around her. “Every Maldivian must learn to swim,” she tells them matter-of-factly. As the first Maldivian woman in the country accredi
The Christian Science Monitor5 min readInternational Relations
Iran’s Official Line On Exchange With Israel: Deterrence Restored
The horn of official triumphalism still sounds unabated in Iran, nearly three weeks after the Islamic Republic launched an unprecedented barrage, from Iranian soil, of more than 300 missiles and drones at Israel. Yet triumphalism aside, Iran’s interp
The Christian Science Monitor4 min readInternational Relations
Facing Russian Threat And An Uncertain America, Europe Rearms
Two words – stark, sober words – sum up a dramatic mood swing in Europe that could redefine, and ultimately loosen, the Continent’s decades-old alliance with the United States. War footing. That phrase, voiced most recently by British Prime Minister

Related Books & Audiobooks