Defense Minister Israel Katz criticized US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack for telling an independent reporter that Israel 'occupies' the Golan Heights in violation of UN resolutions. Katz said Barrack's remarks are 'riddled with inaccuracies' and contradict President Donald Trump's own stance on the Golan Heights.
Defense Minister Israel Katz on Sunday issued a formal rejection of US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack's characterization of Israeli control of the Golan Heights as an 'occupation' contrary to international law. In a statement, Katz said Barrack's remarks were 'riddled with inaccuracies and positions that contradict those of US President [Donald] Trump himself.' The comments come in response to Barrack telling independent reporter Mario Nawfal on Friday that Israel 'occupies the Golan Heights against the UN resolutions, against all of the international order, which has said the Golan [belongs to] Syria.'
The exchange marks the latest escalation in a series of public disagreements between Israeli officials and the US envoy. On Saturday, Barrack claimed that Israel had passed inaccurate intelligence to the US about Turkish plans in Syria. Defense Minister Katz responded Saturday that Israel possessed actionable intelligence about Turkish intentions to endanger Israeli security, and accused Barrack of 'inaccuracies.' An Israeli official later told The Zioneer that Barrack was acting out of personal interest and that his comments did not reflect the Trump administration's position — as The Zioneer reported at 07:24 Jerusalem. Prior to that, assessments by Israeli officials, reported by Ariel Kahana (Israel Hayom), concluded that Barrack does not represent Trump's actual stance on Turkish activity in Syria.
The Golan Heights has been a recurring point of friction. Under the Trump administration, the United States recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights in 2019. In contrast, UN Secretary-General António Guterres reiterated the UN's position that the Golan is Syrian territory, as The Zioneer reported on July 26. The Barrack affair has unfolded against a backdrop of rising Israeli-Turkish tensions over Syria, including Turkish President Erdogan's rhetoric and Israel's concerns about Turkish military encroachment near its border. As The Zioneer reported, Minister Eli Cohen warned on July 9 that if Turkey establishes military bases in Syria, Israel will respond in kind.
It remains unclear whether the Trump administration will publicly clarify Barrack's remarks or distance itself from them. The White House and State Department have not yet issued a statement on the record, and Barrack has not retracted his characterization of Israeli control of the Golan.
6 developments
- StrongUN chief Guterres, on Damascus visit, says Golan Heights is Syrian territory, condemns Israeli actions
- DevelopingFormer Trump envoy says his Hezbollah tweet signals major policy shift toward Iran
- StrongSyria condemns Colombia's recognition of Israeli sovereignty over Golan Heights
- DevelopingFormer Ambassador Oren: Trump's approach shifts daily, Israel won't concede core demands
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