Sens. Cruz, Cotton, Colleagues Urge Additional Action Following Golan Heights Decision
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) sent a letter to President Trump urging his administration to take several steps to implement his decision recognizing the Golan Heights as part of the State of Israel.
"Deepening Israel's sovereignty and control over the Golan Heights is in America's national security interest," Sen. Cruz said. "The president should be applauded for his decision to recognize the reality of that sovereignty, which he did over the objections of some in his administration who incorrectly predicted that it would cause unrest in the Middle East. Now it is imperative that all federal agencies implement the president's decision, including by aligning the State Department's Foreign Affairs Manual to reflect that it is United States policy that the Golan Heights is Israeli territory."
"The United States now recognizes the Golan Heights as sovereign Israeli soil. Our official documents, maps, regulations, and international agreements ought to reflect that historic fact. We stand ready to help the president implement his decision, which strengthens Israel's capacity for self-defense against enemies like Iran and the terrorist forces who want to destroy it," said Senator Cotton.
The full letter may be found here. An excerpt from the letter is below:
"We now urge you to take the following steps to implement your historic decision:
- Direct all federal government agencies to update their official documents, publications, and maps to recognize the Golan Heights as the State of Israel's sovereign territory.
- Direct the State Department to treat the Golan Heights as the State of Israel's sovereign territory for the purpose of: (a) issuing passports to Americans born in the Golan Heights and (b) all treaties and agreements.
- Direct the State Department to pursue talks with the Israeli government about updating the 1972 U.S.-Israel Binational Science Foundation agreement and the related 1977 agreements covering industrial and agricultural research. These agreements bar funding of projects in or relating to "geographic areas which came under the administration of the Government of Israel after June 5, 1967," which is in conflict with your proclamation.
- Direct all federal government agencies responsible for foreign commerce and customs enforcement to allow products from the Golan Heights to be labeled ‘Made in Israel.'"
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