Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded Thursday to Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s statements about the Golan Heights, a disputed territory that Israel controls and that the United Nations and most of the international community consider occupied Syrian territory.
Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Netanyahu recalled the 1967 conflict between Israel and its Arab neighbors, saying Israel fought on multiple fronts, including the Golan Heights.
Netanyahu then addressed al-Sharaa directly, saying Jews have been present in the Golan Heights “since the days of Moses” and referring to the Bible.
Al-Sharaa had previously stated that the Golan Heights belong to the people of the territory and that neither the Syrian nor U.S. president, nor anyone else, could give the territory to another party.
The Golan Heights covers about 1,800 square kilometers in southern Syria and northern Israel. The territory has remained a central point of dispute between Israel and Syria since 1967.
Tensions between the two countries have increased since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government in December 2024. Israel has expanded its military presence in southern Syria and carried out strikes on Syrian targets, citing security concerns and the protection of the Druze population. Damascus has called for the withdrawal of Israeli forces and respect for Syrian sovereignty.
The United Nations and most countries continue to consider the Golan Heights occupied Syrian territory and do not recognize Israeli sovereignty over the area.
