US Envoy Clarifies No Change in American Recognition of Israeli Sovereignty Over Golan Heights

Tom Barrett, the US envoy to Syria from the State Department, addressed controversy following his remarks about the Golan Heights, where he stated that Israel holds the territory "contrary to international resolutions." Barrett clarified that US policy remains unchanged, including recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights. He emphasized that the US stance was set by President Trump in 2019 and has not shifted since.

Barrett explained that his comments were a historical record and part of an explanation for why he does not foresee annexation in Lebanon. He noted that the UN's position was cited as evidence for his claim that land taken by force remains disputed for decades, in this case over 50 years, without a UN resolution. Barrett stressed that negotiated understandings, rather than maps, sustain the status quo, and that his remarks did not endorse the UN's position.

His initial statements, made during a podcast interview with Mario Naufal, asserted that Israel occupies the Golan Heights despite UN resolutions designating it Syrian territory and that there is international consensus on this. This sparked criticism, including from Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, who accused Barrett of inaccuracies and contradicting the Trump administration's official recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights in 2019.