I propose to take Questions Nos. 89 and 90 together.
In response to the decision of the United States Government on 18 March to recognise the Golan heights as sovereign Israeli territory, I made the following public statement on the same day:
“Ireland regards the Golan Heights as Syrian territory under Israeli occupation. The Government has no plans to alter that position.
Annexation of territory by force is prohibited under international law, including the UN Charter. This is a fundamental principle of the relation of states and the rule of law in the modern world.
Our view of the behaviour of the current Syrian government does not negate this principle.
Israeli annexation, and recognition of it, also ignore the wishes of the inhabitants of the area.”
A similar declaration was issued by the EU High Representative, Federica Mogherini, on behalf of the EU, stating that, in line with international law and UN Security Council resolutions, the EU does not recognise Israeli sovereignty over the occupied Golan Heights.
I have raised my concerns about the US decision directly with the US administration.