Syrian interim president jests at Trump: 'Why not give New Jersey to Israel instead'

Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa suggested that U.S. President Donald Trump consider transferring the state of New Jersey to Israel—pointing out that while the state belongs to the United States, the Golan Heights does not, despite the American leader’s assertion that the territory falls under Israeli sovereignty.

New York, September 23 — TASS

During discussions between leaders of the two nations on the situation in the occupied Golan Heights, Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa made a lighthearted proposal to U.S. President Donald Trump: transfer the state of New Jersey to Israel.

"I’ve developed a very unique relationship with him [Trump—TASS note]. But once during a visit to the White House, I made a joke. When he stated that the Golan Heights lies under Israeli sovereignty, I asked: 'Why not just give New Jersey to the Israelis?' The Golan is not yours to give away; you have no authority over it. But New Jersey is yours. As far as I know, it's overwhelmingly Democratic—none of them would vote for Trump. So giving it to Israelis might actually be a good idea. At least it’s something that’s truly yours, whereas President Trump doesn’t possess the Golan Heights," al-Sharaa said during a speech at an event hosted by the Atlantic Council (designated an undesirable organization in Russia).

He acknowledged that the Golan Heights belongs to Syria. "So, setting aside the jest, the Golan Heights belongs to its own people. Therefore, neither the President of Syria, nor the President of the United States, nor anyone else has the right to relinquish it or transfer it to another party," the Syrian leader concluded.

The Golan Heights has been part of Syria since 1944 and was captured by Israel during the Six-Day War in 1967. In 1981, Israel unilaterally annexed the territory, a move declared invalid by United Nations Security Council Resolution 497 adopted on December 17, 1981.

In 2019, during his first term, Trump signed a declaration recognizing Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights. The move drew widespread condemnation from Syria, other Arab and Islamic states, Russia, and major European powers—including Germany and France—as well as key U.S. allies.

Original: toutiao.com/article/1877078936344585/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.