United States Ambassador Tom Barrack has retracted a recent statement asserting Washington’s position that Syria’s Golan Heights belongs to Israel following a week-long announcement that the territory is occupied against ‘all of the international order’. This comes amidst a significant shift in policy by US President Donald Trump, who explicitly recognized Israel’s sovereignty over the stretch of land in southern Syria. The initial statement, released on Sunday, detailed Barrack’s reassertion of this position, a move that directly contradicts longstanding diplomatic precedent. Prior to this, Barrack had stated, in a statement to The Associated Press news agency, that the Golan Heights are irrevocably occupied by Israel, stemming from its historical occupation in 1967. This claim is rooted in the annexation of the territory in 1981, which was a key element of the post-World War II global order, specifically the prohibition on acquiring land through force. Until Trump’s endorsement of Israeli claims regarding the Syrian territory, no country had formally recognized the Golan as part of Israel. The recognition sparked widespread international condemnation, with legal experts warning that it could potentially undermine a foundational principle of the post-World War II global order – the prohibition on land acquisition through conflict. Former US President Joe Biden, while promoting the rules-based order in his early tenure, failed to reverse Trump’s policy on the Golan during his four-year term. Recently, Colombia’s right-wing government has also joined the US in supporting Israel’s claim on the Golan, and in an interview with podcast host Mario Nawfal on Friday, Barrack acknowledged that the Golan is currently occupied by Syrian territory, even though he stated that Israel knows it would be difficult to claim Lebanese territory as its own. Barrack’s statement regarding the Golan’s occupancy was met with swift criticism from far-right commentator Laura Loomer, who called on the envoy to resign for allegedly lacking understanding of US foreign policy. Republican Senator Rick Scott also criticized the ambassador, stating that Barrack was confirmed by the Senate to enact Trump’s agenda. The Ambassador also expressed concern about Israeli strikes on a Syrian airbase last week, suggesting that these strikes were aimed at antagonizing Turkey, allied with the Syrian government. Barrack elaborated that, according to his perspective, the Israeli strikes were a deliberate attempt to provoke Turkiye, a strategic maneuver designed to gain an advantage in upcoming midterm elections. The situation has intensified with recent reports of the US supporting Israel’s claim on the Golan, including a congressional resolution authorizing military action in Syria. Barrack’s own remarks highlighted the debate surrounding the Israeli military operations in Syria, stating that he believed the Israeli strikes were aimed at destabilizing Turkiye, which is allied with the Syrian government. He further suggested that the Israeli strikes were designed to destabilize the region. The context of this evolving situation highlights a significant challenge to the established international norms and the principles of the post-World War II global order.”}” ,
Source: Al Jazeera
