Turkey's main opposition CHP condemns Trump’s Golan move

ANKARA

Turkey’s main opposition party has condemned the United States’ decision to recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights of Syria and Israel’s recent aerial attack on Gaza Strip, calling on all parties to show restraint.

“We condemn and consider Israel’s attack on Gaza on March 25 as another development that escalate tension and endanger regional fault lines, in addition to the U.S. decision on Golan Heights,” Ünal Çeviköz, deputy leader of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), said in a written statement on March 26.

Çeviköz, a former ambassador, recalled that the decree signed by U.S. President Donald Trump on Golan Heights is completely in violation of resolutions 242 and 497 of the U.N. Security Council and therefore a blatant breach of international law.

Golan Heights belong to Syria and any intervention by the Israeli state on these occupied lands is null and void, Çeviköz said, criticizing Trump for ignoring U.N. Security Council resolutions on the status of Jerusalem and Golan.

“We are concerned that this decision that violates international law, Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity can trigger new regional crises and further extend the war in Syria,” he said.

“We, as the Republican People’s Party, as stated openly in the U.N. resolutions, do not recognize Israeli sovereignty on the Golan Heights and reiterate that territorial integrity of Syria must be respected by all countries, particularly its neighbors,” he stated.

Çeviköz recalled that Turkey can positively contribute in the de-escalation of regional tension through re-instating good relations with all regional countries, especially with Syria.