President Trump said at a rally in Green Bay, Wisconsin on Saturday that recognizing Israeli control of the disputed Golan Heights territory was a decision that is "important strategically" for the nation.
Trump announced in March that the U.S. would recognize Israeli control of the territory, delivering a diplomatic win for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of a tough reelection race.
During his rally on Saturday, Trump discussed the decision.
"So that's been under consideration for 52 years, for 52 years they told me they'd been studying it," Trump said. "This is very important strategically for victory, heights, because you're up high, very important. Fifty-two years ago this started and I did it quickly. Done. It's all done."
Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria during the 1967 Six-Day War and annexed the territory in 1981, a move that was not formally recognized by the U.S. and other nations who said its permanent status should be determined through negotiations.
Trump's decision to recognize the territory as Israel's drew praise from Netanyahu and criticism from Syria.
Syria’s foreign ministry said in a statement at the time of that “Trump’s recognition is a blatant attack on Syria’s sovereignty and its territorial integrity.”
This week, Netanyahu announced plans to introduce a resolution to a name a town in the Golan Heights after President Trump.
"In honor of President Trump, who recognized Israel's sovereignty over the Golan, [I] will soon call for a settlement in the Golan Heights in his name," Netanyahu said.
