Trump Envoy Clarifies Comments on Golan Heights Amid Israeli Criticism

Tom Barrack, former US envoy to Syria and former US ambassador to Turkey, issued a clarification following his controversial remarks about the status of the Golan Heights. His comments had sparked sharp criticism from Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz. Barrack emphasized that the US administration's position has not changed since President Donald Trump's 2019 recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights. He explained that his statements were meant to reflect historical documentation and to explain why he does not foresee annexation in Lebanon, not to challenge the US stance on the Golan.

Barrack also addressed US negotiations with the Lebanese government and efforts to regulate Hezbollah's weapons. He stated that the US negotiates only with Lebanon's legitimate government and that the June 26 framework signed in Washington offers a historic opportunity for peace and prosperity in Lebanon. He underscored that Hezbollah is designated a foreign terrorist organization and that the US does not negotiate with it. Barrack said his remarks raised necessary questions about the source and future of Hezbollah's weapons, which are supplied and funded by Iran, but did not imply any support for the UN's position on the Golan.

The clarification came after Barrack's interview in which he said Israel "occupies" the Golan Heights despite UN resolutions recognizing it as Syrian territory, and claimed there was international consensus on the issue. These statements drew a strong rebuke from Defense Minister Gantz, who accused Barrack of inaccuracies and contradicting Trump's own position on the Golan Heights.