Michael Hernandez
19 March 2019•Update: 19 March 2019
WASHINGTON
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo insisted the change to the U.S.'s designation of the occupied Golan Heights in an annual human rights report was an intentional move made to reflect Washington’s view of the contested territory.
The State Department last week dropped its designation of the Golan Heights as "Israeli-occupied," instead opting to describe the contested region as "Israeli-controlled territory". A senior State Department official downplayed the change at the time, saying it does not signal a policy change while stressing the report is not concentrated on legal designations.
Pompeo, however, was more assertive on the change.
"This was a factual statement about how we observe the situation. And we think it’s very accurate, and we stand behind it," he told reporters Monday en route to the Middle East, where he is slated to visit Kuwait, Israel and Lebanon.
Despite some speculation that Pompeo will recognize Israel's sovereignty over the Golan during his trip to Israel, which is preparing for national elections, it is unclear if the Trump administration will do so.
The visit comes amid some congressional momentum to recognize the Golan Heights as Israeli land.
Senators Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, Tom Cotton and Congressman Mike Gallagher introduced legislation in the House of Representatives and the Senate in late February to recognize Israel's sovereignty over the occupied Golan.
The Republican companion bills have at least seven co-sponsors in the Senate and 23 co-sponsors in the House. All are Republican. Both pieces of legislation have been referred to the respective foreign affairs committees.
Israel occupied the Golan Heights following the 1967 Six-Day War and moved to formally annex the territory in 1981 -- an action unanimously rejected at the time by the UN Security Council.
Security Council Resolution 497 says the "Israeli decision to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration in the occupied Syrian Golan Heights is null and void and without international legal effect."
It further demanded Israel rescind its decision.
