U.S. Senator Graham says to lobby for recognition of Golan as part of Israel

JERUSALEM, March 11 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham toured the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights on Monday and vowed to lobby the White House to acknowledge the disputed territory as part of Israel.

Graham's remark was made during a tour in the Golan, a territory Israel captured from Syria in a 1967 war, together with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman.

"I will go back to the United States Senate. Working with Senator Cruz, I will start an effort to recognize the Golan as part of the State of Israel now and forever," Graham told reporters on the plateau.

He said the occupation of the Golan Heights was necessary for Israel's "survival" and that the territory, which borders with Syria, is still "strategically" important for Israel.

"What's best for America is for a safe, secure and prosperous Israel. Why? Common values, common enemies, and from a military point of view, the best friend the United States could possibly ever have in a troubled region," he said.

Netanyahu hailed the Senator's "very strong words," saying they are "taking this to a very concrete step - to keep the Golan as part of Israel."

Netanyahu said that without control over the Golan Heights, Israel's northern border "will be with Iran on the shores of the Kinneret - and we are not prepared to accept that."

He urged the United States and the rest of the international community to acknowledge the annexation.

Israel captured the Golan Heights in the 1967 Middle East war, along with the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. In 1981, it annexed the Golan, claiming it part of Israel, in an act never recognized internationally.

Netanyahu, who is on an election campaign for another term in office, hopes the White House will take a stand in favor Israel's sovereignty over the Golan.

In 2017, U.S. President Donald Trump, recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, breaching decade-long U.S. policy and sparking a wave of violence between Israel and the Palestinians. Enditem