Archive · 24 Sep 2026
Al-Sharaa Reaffirms Syria’s Golan Claim, Rejects Israeli Sovereignty
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa spoke about the Golan Heights at the United Nations.
Syria says the Golan Heights belongs to Syria.
Israel controls the plateau and says it is permanently part of Israel.
Israel captured the area from Syria in 1967 and annexed it in 1981.
The United Nations rejects that annexation and considers the area occupied Syrian territory.
Al-Sharaa joked that Donald Trump could give New Jersey to Israel instead of giving away the Golan Heights.
He also accused Israel of attacking Syria many times, though the figures were not independently verified in the material provided.
Israel’s defense minister rejected al-Sharaa’s position.
Al-Sharaa nevertheless said Syria remained open to a diplomatic settlement.
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa told the United Nations that the Golan Heights would remain Syrian and demanded an Israeli withdrawal.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz rejected the claim, saying the Golan under Israeli sovereignty is permanently part of Israel.
The United Nations considers the Golan Syrian territory under Israeli occupation and rejects Israel’s 1981 annexation.
Al-Sharaa recalled joking to Donald Trump that the United States could give New Jersey to Israel instead.
Al-Sharaa accused Israel of hundreds of strikes, incursions and detentions in Syria while saying Damascus remains open to peace talks.
- Who
- Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz, Israel, Syria, Donald Trump and the United Nations are central to the account.
- What
- Al-Sharaa reaffirmed Syria’s claim to the Golan Heights, rejected Israeli sovereignty and accused Israel of military operations in Syria.
- When
- Al-Sharaa made the remarks during a United Nations General Assembly address on September 23; the year is not consistently specified in the articles.
- Where
- The remarks were made at the United Nations General Assembly and concerned the Golan Heights and alleged Israeli operations inside Syria.
- Why
- Al-Sharaa said Syria must defend its sovereignty and international law, while also leaving open the possibility of a diplomatic settlement.
Syria and United Nations Position
Israel and Recognizing Governments
Sovereignty over the Golan Heights
Syria and United Nations Position
Syria says the Golan Heights is Syrian territory, and the United Nations rejects Israel’s 1981 annexation under Security Council Resolution 497.
Israel and Recognizing Governments
Israel says the Golan under Israeli sovereignty is permanently part of Israel; the United States and Colombia are identified in the articles as recognizing Israel’s claim.
Security and strategic importance
Syria and United Nations Position
Syria treats the plateau’s return as a matter of sovereignty and national pride and demands an Israeli withdrawal.
Israel and Recognizing Governments
Israel says relinquishing the elevated plateau would expose northern Israel to security risks.
Military operations and peace talks
Syria and United Nations Position
Al-Sharaa accused Israel of repeated strikes, incursions and detentions in Syria but said Damascus remains open to diplomacy.
Israel and Recognizing Governments
Israel’s defense minister rejected al-Sharaa’s sovereignty claims, while the articles do not provide an Israeli response to the alleged military-operation figures or peace proposal.
- Territory at issue
- The Golan Heights, a strategically important plateau captured by Israel from Syria in 1967.
- Syria’s position
- The Golan Heights remains Syrian territory, and attempts to violate Syria’s sovereignty would be opposed.
- Israel’s position
- Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz said the Golan under Israeli sovereignty is an inseparable and permanent part of Israel.
- United Nations position
- The United Nations considers the Golan Syrian territory under Israeli occupation and rejects Israel’s 1981 annexation.
- United States recognition
- Donald Trump formally recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights in 2019.
- Alleged Israeli operations
- Al-Sharaa cited 500 air strikes, more than 1,200 incursions and 300 detentions in Syria since Bashar al-Assad’s fall; the figures were not independently verified in the provided material.
- Diplomatic position
- Al-Sharaa said Syria remains open to a peaceful diplomatic settlement.
