The Legality of US Recognition of Israeli Sovereignty over the Golan Heights from the Perspective of International Law

The sovereignty of the Zionist Regime [Israel] over the Golan Heights - which was part of Syrian territory before it was occupied by Israel - was recognized by the President of the United States, in a proclamation on March 27, 2019. While this proclamation can be examined from many perspectives, this paper will attempt to consider its legality and consequences from an international-law viewpoint. Based on the findings of this research, which was carried out in a descriptive-analytical way, this action by the United States violates customary international law which prohibits recognition of situations arising from the use of force. It contradicts resolutions of the UN General Assembly and the Security Council, especially Resolutions 242 of 1967 and 497 of 1981. It also violates Syrian national sovereignty and territorial integrity. From the point of view of international law, not only this proclamation will fail to formalize the separation of the Golan from Syria, it will entail the international responsibility of the United States. As such, the US government is obliged to end the said illegal situation as soon as possible and remedy the Syrian government for this decision.