US’ Greenblatt Posts Map Annexing Golan Heights to Israel

White House senior adviser Jared Kushner speaks with United States Ambassador to the United Nations (UN) and lawyer Jason Greenblatt (R) before a meeting of the United Nations (UN) Security Council at UN headquarters in New York, U.S., February 20, 2018. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson
White House senior adviser Jared Kushner speaks with United States Ambassador to the United Nations (UN) and lawyer Jason Greenblatt (R) before a meeting of the United Nations (UN) Security Council at UN headquarters in New York, U.S., February 20, 2018. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson
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US’ Greenblatt Posts Map Annexing Golan Heights to Israel

White House senior adviser Jared Kushner speaks with United States Ambassador to the United Nations (UN) and lawyer Jason Greenblatt (R) before a meeting of the United Nations (UN) Security Council at UN headquarters in New York, U.S., February 20, 2018. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson
White House senior adviser Jared Kushner speaks with United States Ambassador to the United Nations (UN) and lawyer Jason Greenblatt (R) before a meeting of the United Nations (UN) Security Council at UN headquarters in New York, U.S., February 20, 2018. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

Jason Greenblatt, the top White House Middle East peace negotiator, posted a map showing the occupied Golan Heights as part of Israel.

“Welcome to the newest addition of our international maps system after POTUS issued a proclamation recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights,” Greenblatt tweeted.

President Donald Trump in March recognized Israel’s sovereignty over the strategic plateau, even though the annexation is in violation of long-established US policy on the matter.

Meanwhile, the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Frederica Mogherini restated that the EU still doesn’t recognize Israeli sovereignty over the highly contentious heights, stressing that taking it over by military force will result in dangerous consequences.

"Our position on the Golan Heights has been so clear because we believe that international rules, international law and international standards must be upheld," continued Mogherini.

"Borders cannot be changed by military force," Mogherini said. "And this is a principle behind which the EU will continue to firmly stand and in a united manner."

In late March the United States recognized Israel's 1981 annexation of the Golan Heights, a territory Israel seized from Syria after the 1967 Middle East war. The EU’s top diplomat also noted that she had already issued a declaration on behalf of all the 28 member states and clarified their stance on the Golan Heights.

Additionally, she said, the five EU member states of the UN Security Council – including the UK, France, Germany, Belgium and Poland – had expressed the bloc’s common position on Golan in a joint stake-out.

Reaffirming the EU’s position on the Golan, Mogherini stressed support for a two-state solution which ensures Israelis and Palestinians living side by side in peace according to recognized and secure borders. She also warned that abandoning the two-state solution spur untold chaos in the Middle East.



‘No One Dares’ … First Palestinian Response to Israeli Plan to Separate Hebron from PA

Israeli security forces stand guard as Israeli settlers tour in the Palestinian side of the old city and market of Hebron in the occupied West Bank on July 5, 2025. (Photo by HAZEM BADER / AFP)
Israeli security forces stand guard as Israeli settlers tour in the Palestinian side of the old city and market of Hebron in the occupied West Bank on July 5, 2025. (Photo by HAZEM BADER / AFP)
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‘No One Dares’ … First Palestinian Response to Israeli Plan to Separate Hebron from PA

Israeli security forces stand guard as Israeli settlers tour in the Palestinian side of the old city and market of Hebron in the occupied West Bank on July 5, 2025. (Photo by HAZEM BADER / AFP)
Israeli security forces stand guard as Israeli settlers tour in the Palestinian side of the old city and market of Hebron in the occupied West Bank on July 5, 2025. (Photo by HAZEM BADER / AFP)

A report published by The Wall Street Journal, and promoted by Israeli media on Sunday, has renewed focus on an Israeli plan dating back more than 60 years aimed at pushing for the creation of “emirates” or entities independent from the Palestinian Authority (PA).

The report focused on the Palestinian city of Hebron, and cited what it claimed were “21 tribal elders from Hebron,” who allegedly sent a letter in Hebrew to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling for negotiations with them to join the Abraham Accords and consequently abandon the “two-state solution,” which Palestinians rely on to establish their state.

However, a Palestinian security source, in remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, said: “What is happening is yet another Israeli attempt to weaken the Palestinian Authority.”

“This is a failed plan,” he said: “No one here would dare take this step and say: I am the spy... I am the alternative to the Authority ... Those who tried that are known and represent no one.”

Reportedly, the elders included a detailed proposed timetable for talks to join the Abraham Accords and for “a fair and decent arrangement that would replace the Oslo Accords, which only brought damage, death, economic disaster and destruction.”

According to The Wall Street Journal, the initiative was helmed by Wadee al-Jaabari, who local city residents and its political leadership claim is unknown to them, and backed by "four other leading Hebron sheikhs.”

Palestinian city residents, including Jaabari's extended family members, condemned the proposal, saying that its authors do not represent them.

Israeli sources said that Economy Minister Nir Barkat stands behind the letter, which was allegedly sent to him. Barkat met at his home with al-Jaabari and the other sheikhs; he has held more than 12 meetings with them since February, The Wall Street Journal said. They asked him to forward the letter to Netanyahu and are now waiting for his response.

The sheikhs reportedly proposed that Israel grant work permits to 1,000 workers from Hebron on a trial basis, and then extend this to another 5,000.

According to Maariv newspaper, the Israeli government is “seeking to promote this plan to destroy the Palestinian Authority and the establishment of a Palestinian state.”