What does Colombia’s Golan Heights recognition mean for the occupied Syrian territory?
LONDON: Colombia on Monday recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Syrian Arab Republic’s Golan Heights. It is only the second UN member state to do so, after the US officially recognized Israel’s claim in 2019.
The announcement was one of the first major foreign-policy decisions by the country’s new president, Abelardo de la Espriella, after taking office on Friday. It was praised by Israel and drew condemnation from Syria, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Qatar.
Israel captured the strategic plateau from Syria during the 1967 Arab-Israeli war and later annexed it, a move that is not recognized under international law. While Colombia’s decision does not alter the legal status of the territory, analysts warned that it might potentially set a diplomatic trend.
Samy Akil, senior adviser at online publication The Syria Report, told Arab News that Colombia’s announcement carried greater symbolic value for Israel than practical consequences on the ground.
