The Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit condemned on Monday the United States’ President Donald Trump’s recognition of the Golan Heights as Israeli territory, according to state owned news agency MENA.
He added that the decision does not change the area’s status. The statement was said on the sidelines of a series of high-level meetings which began in Tunisia on Tuesday as part of the 30th Ordinary Session of the Council of the League of Arab States, which will conclude on 31 March.
Aboul Gheit’s comments came after Trump signed a proclamation officially granting US’ recognition of the Golan Heights as Israeli territory, in a dramatic shift from decades of US policy.
About 6,000 delegates from 21 Arab League member states are expected to participate in the event. Among the first heads of states which confirmed attendance are Saudi King Salman and Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
There have been reports that the summit will discuss the reinstatement of Syria’s membership in the Arab League. In January, Egyptian Foreign Minister, Sameh Shoukry, said that Syria has to follow several measures in order to be readmitted into the Arab League. One of these measures is to politically solve the ongoing crisis through the UN’s vision. The Syrian regime has lately been trying to return back to the Arab diplomatic scene by sending Syrian political, security, or cultural officials to several Arab countries.
