Israeli PM Netanyahu dedicates new settlement in Golan Heights to US president, calls it 'Trump Heights'
The friendship between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump only grows. On Sunday, June 16, Netanyahu unveiled a token of his gratitude for Trump by naming a settlement after him. "At a festive meeting on the Golan Heights, the Government approved the establishment of a new community on the Golan Heights, to be named 'Trump Heights' (Ramat Trump), after US President @realDonaldTrump," he tweeted. Ramat Trump is the Hebrew translation of the name.
Following the meeting, a ceremony was held to unveil the sign for the new community with the participation of Netanyahu and the government's ministers, it was announced on Twitter. "This is a historic day for us. We are going to do two things: Establish a new community on the Golan Heights, something which has not been done for many years. This is an act of settlement and of Zionism of the first order," he said.
This was a gesture to thank Trump for supporting Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights. It had been occupied for decades by Israel but was not seen as Israeli territory by the US until last March, when Trump officially recognized Israel’s annexation of the region. Noting that Trump was the first international leader to have recognized their sovereignty, Netanyahu said, "He tore the mask off this hypocrisy, which does not recognize what is self-evident. We are proud that we have this opportunity to establish the community and also honor a great friend," he said.
The American ambassador to Israel David Friedman also attended the meeting. "It's absolutely beautiful," he reportedly said. "I can't think of a more appropriate and more beautiful birthday present." Donald Trump's birthday was on Friday, June 14. He turned 73. Trump also responded to the honor, tweeting, "Thank you PM and the State of Israel for this great honor!"
"The prime minister’s decision to build a new place in the Golan Heights is a revolution. We were thirsty for that," the mayor reportedly told The Guardian. To the locals, Trump's controversial personality doesn't really matter, the publication reported. They are happy with what Trump has done for Israel and for them, they said. The strategic location was annexed by Israel from Syria after the Six Day War in 1967. The international community, including The United Nations, did not recognize the territory as belonging to Israel.