Netanyahu Opens Trump Heights — a Non-Existent Israeli Settlement
(MEE) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Sunday plans to establish a new Israeli settlement in the Golan Heights named after US President Donald Trump.
Netanyahu unveiled a “Trump Heights” sign, also known as Ramat Trump, to mark the site of the new settlement in recognition of Trump’s decision to recognise Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights.
“We’re going to establish a new community, something that hasn’t happened in many years, and in honour of President Donald Trump,” Netanyahu said during a government meeting.
Despite the attention surrounding Netanyahu’s announcement, his government is temporary and cannot officially approve the settlement.
Haaretz reported on Sunday that Netanyahu’s government can only begin the “administrative work” on the project.
The settlement will be part of the Golan Regional Council and built in the Kela Alon community, according to Haaretz.
Critics of the settlement slammed Netanyahu and described the inauguration of Trump Heights as a “PR stunt”.
“Anyone who reads the fine print in this ‘historic’ decision will understand that this is nothing more than a nonbinding, fake policy,” Blue and White MK Zvi Hauser told the Times of Israel.
“There is no budgeting, no planning, no location for a settlement, and there is no binding decision to implement the project. But at least they insisted on a name for the settlement.”
Trump signed a presidential order on 25 March recognising Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights – a move considered helpful to Netanyahu in his re-election bid.
By MEE and agencies / Republished with permission / Middle East Eye / Report a typo
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