US President Donald Trump on Monday signed a proclamation recognising Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights and told the visiting Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, that his country has "absolute right" to self defence.
Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria in the 1967 Mideast war but its sovereignty over the territory is not recognized by the international community. Trump's move reversed more than a half-century of the US policy over the issue.
"The United States recognizes Israel's absolute right to defend itself. The despicable attack this morning demonstrates a significant security challenges that Israel faces every single day. And today I am taking historic action to promote Israel's ability to defend itself and really to have a very powerful, very strong national security which they're entitled to add," Trump said at a White House signing ceremony.
President Trump is currently facing anger from his global counterparts over this decision.
The Syrian foreign minister said US recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights will lead to its isolation.
Minister Walid al-Moualem added: "No matter how many years have passed, this will not change the fact that the Golan is an occupied Syrian territory."
Saudi Arabia also rejected US President Donald Trump's decision to proclaim the Golan Heights Israeli territory, saying it "condemned" the move as a violation of international law.
"Saudi Arabia expresses its firm rejection and condemnation of the US administration's declaration that it recognises Israel's sovereignty over the occupied Syrian Golan Heights," read a statement published by the Saudi state news agency.
The powerful kingdom is a key Arab ally of the United States, with ties steadily warming since Trump's 2017 inauguration.
Golan Heights, the area that covers under 500 square miles, offers expansive views over Syria and Israel, giving it strategic military importance. It was seized by Israel from Syria during the Six-Day War of 1967. Ever since, the area has been claimed by both countries.
Russia's foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the move "ignores all international procedures" and would "only aggravate the situation".
"Unfortunately, this could drive a new wave of tensions in the Middle East region," Zakharova said in a radio broadcast, according to Russian news agencies.
Russian Foreign Secretary Sergei Lavrov said the US decision leads to "a gross violation of international law, blocks the resolution of the Syrian crisis and aggravates the situation in all the Middle East," he said during a telephone call with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, according to his ministry.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, meeting Trump at the White House on Monday, called the recognition "historic" and said the Golan Heights would remain permanently under Israeli control.
The move drew criticism from the Syrian government, which called it a "blatant attack" on its sovereignty.
Lebanon said that the US decision to recognise Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights violates international law and undermines the prospects for peace.
"The Golan Heights are Syrian Arab land, no decision can change this, and no country can revisit history by transferring ownership of land from one country to another," said a statement by the Lebanese foreign ministry.
The ministry added that attempts by Israel to expand its territory by way of "force and aggression" would only isolate the Jewish state.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu praised Trump saying he has shown consistently incredible support for Israel's right to self-defense.
