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South Caucasus

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa says he once joked with U.S. President Donald Trump about Washington’s recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the occupied Golan Heights, asking why Trump did not give Israel New Jersey instead. Al-Sharaa quipped that New Jersey was something Trump could actually give away and noted its Democratic voters, before turning serious and insisting that neither the U.S. nor Syrian president has the right to surrender the Golan Heights. The U.S. recognised Israeli sovereignty over the territory in 2019, while the UN continues to regard it as occupied Syrian territory.


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Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa says he once joked with U.S. President Donald Trump about Washington’s recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the occupied Golan Heights, asking why Trump did not give Israel New Jersey instead.

Al-Sharaa quipped that New Jersey was something Trump could actually give away and noted its Democratic voters, before turning serious and insisting that neither the U.S. nor Syrian president has the right to surrender the Golan Heights.

The U.S. recognised Israeli sovereignty over the territory in 2019, while the UN continues to regard it as occupied Syrian territory.