Israeli cabinet names Golan’s newest town ‘Trump Heights’

Israel says the move is in recognition of the president’s efforts “on behalf of the State of Israel in a wide range of areas.” 

By World Israel News Staff

The Israeli cabinet was holding its weekly meeting Sunday on the Golan Heights, instead of Jerusalem, and voting on a resolution to “initiate establishment of a new residential community on the Golan Heights to be named for U.S President Donald Trump,” according to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). The name of the new Golan locality will be Ramat Trump – Trump Heights, it said.

The PMO said that the move was being taken in recognition of the president’s efforts “on behalf of the State of Israel in a wide range of areas,” including “American recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and the recognition of Israeli sovereignty on the Golan Heights.”

U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman would be attending the cabinet meeting, said the PMO.

In May, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu provided his cabinet details of the community to be named for the U.S. president. 

It followed the ceremony at the White House in March, attended by the Israeli prime minister, in which Trump recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights captured by Israel from Syria in the 1967 Six Day War after the Syrians had amassed troops on the former border.

During the 19 years after the State of Israel was established, Syrian snipers and artillery used the Heights to fire at Israeli civilians below.

In 1981, the Israeli parliament passed legislation extending Israeli law to the Golan.

Golan HeightsTrump Heights