For 52 years residents of the Golan Heights have been fighting against the intentions of various Israeli governments to withdraw from the territory. To our joy, as a result of this struggle, in which all Israelis have shared, this never transpired and we can all rejoice in that, particularly in light of the civil war we have seen unfold in Syria and the thought of what would have happened in the country's north had the Golan not been in our hands.
The American recognition of Israeli sovereignty on the Golan Heights has put an end to the questions and doubts over whether the Golan is Israeli territory. Moreover, in the 52 years that have passed since we acquired the Golan, 34 ancient synagogues from different points in history have been discovered there, far more than anywhere else in the country. This points to the ancient bond between the people of Israel and the Golan – and the coin that was found in the synagogue in Gamla, with the inscription "For the redemption of Jerusalem the holy," illustrates the strong connection between the Golan and Jerusalem, the capital of Israel.
U.S. President Donald Trump's recognition of Israeli sovereignty on the Golan is a consummation of the U.S. embassy transfer to Jerusalem. My hope is that the next government invests in the Golan develops the city of Katzrin and other communities, with infrastructure, jobs, new neighborhoods and all that is needed to help the Golan blossom more than ever. There's no question that investment in the Golan is needed in every possible area – health care, education, employment opportunities, housing, infrastructure and more.
The goal I have declared as head of the Golan Regional Council is to double the Golan's population within a decade. This is only possible with the support of the Israeli government, as a supplement to the American recognition of our sovereignty.
