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Trump Heights (Hebrew: רמת טראמפ, romanized: Ramat Trump [ʁaˈmat ˈtʁamp]) is a planned Israeli settlement in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights named after and in honor of Donald Trump, the 45th and 47th President of the United States.[2][3][4][5] Israeli settlements in the Golan Heights are widely regarded as illegal under international law; however, the Israeli government disputes this.[6][7]

Key Information

It will be under the jurisdiction of Golan Regional Council.[8] It is the first community in Israel and Israeli-occupied territories named after a sitting American president since Kfar Truman.[9][10]

In 2023 it had a population of 102.[1]

Location

[edit]

The settlement is located near the community of Kela Alon,[11] where the Beruchim community, which was founded in 1991, was located.[12] The area of the settlement of Beruchim was planned for future expansion of the settlement of Kela Alon, and is inhabited by a few residents.[13]

The settlement is very close to the Petroleum Road. This route separates Beruchim / Ramat Trump from East, and Kela Alon to the west of it.[citation needed]

History

[edit]

A kibbutz was established in the area in the 1980s. However, it disassembled after a few years.[14] In 1991, an Israeli settlement called Brukhim was established on the land of the future Trump Heights. It failed to attract many residents.[15] Brukhim had ten residents as of 2019.[13][7]

Entrance to the settlement, 18 February 2025

The government of Israel convened on June 16, 2019, at the planned location in the depopulated settlement of Brukhim, very close to Kela Alon in the north-west of the Golan Heights, and declared the establishment of the new settlement as gratitude to Donald Trump for support for Israel and recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights.[16][17][18]

The settlement did not yet have any funding at the time of its announced establishment.[19][20] Due to this, it was met with criticism by then-opposition leaders in Israel. Zvi Hauser called it a "dummy-resolution".[20] In Axios, it was referred to as a "public relations stunt".[19] Gideon Remez later referred to the settlement as a Potemkin village.[21] However, the Ministry of Construction entered the preliminary planning stage at this time.[19]

In the first stage, 110 housing units were planned,[8][11] with the regional council planning as many as 400 homes in the area in the long term.[22] The population of the community was planned to consist of both religious and secular settlers.[23] On August 6, 2019, the National Planning and Building Council approved the establishment of the new settlement.[24] A pre-military mechina boarding school was inaugurated in the settlement on November 7, 2019,[10] and it was reportedly attended by a community of teenagers by October 2020.[25] As of June 2020, construction of housing had not begun.[14] At that time, all but two letters of the entrance sign had been removed by either vandals or rough weather.[14][26] However, the sign was restored by January 2021.[27][28]

The Golan Eagle honoring President Trump – Trump Heights, Golan.[29]

In June 2020, Israel's government approved 8 million Israeli new shekels (about 2.3 million in US dollars) in funding for the Trump Heights settlement.[30][31] On July 4, 2020,[citation needed] a major sculptural memorial was placed adjacent to the entrance to Trump Heights, honoring President Donald J. Trump. It depicts an eagle in front of a menorah.[32][33] Settlers began arriving in April 2021,[34] with as many as twenty families having been expected to arrive that summer.[27]

As of December, 2024 Trump Heights was home to about 70 adults and 60 children under 13, comprising 26 families, living in "makeshift homes and caravans". Community leader Yarden Freimann said the community planned to double its population in the next year, consistent with an Israeli government plan to double the Jewish population in the Golan Heights. Land had been cleared in preparation for around 50 new homes.[35]

Economy

[edit]

The main economic sectors of the region are agriculture and tourism.[7][14] The immediate area reportedly experienced an increase in tourism after the Trump Heights settlement was announced.[36]

Geography

[edit]

The planned settlement area for Trump Heights consists of about 276 dunams (about 68 acres).[37][38] It is about 670 meters (~2,200 feet) above sea level.[39] The surrounding area has been described as a "largely treeless" volcanic plateau,[39][22] with tall grass and stray land mines.[7][22]

The settlement is about 45 minutes from a hospital in Safed,[14] and 30 minutes from a market in Kiryat Shmona.[14][40] It is about 64.4 kilometers (40.0 mi) southwest of Damascus, Syria,[41] and 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) from the armistice line with Syria.[20]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Trump Heights

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Trump Heights (Hebrew: רמת טראמפ, Ramat Trump) is an in the northern , named in honor of , who as U.S. President in 2019 became the first and only world leader to recognize sovereignty over the strategic plateau, which captured from in the 1967 . The settlement was formally unveiled by Israeli Prime Minister on June 16, 2019, near the existing community of Kela Alon, as a of gratitude for the Trump administration's affirming Israel's control of the , a move that defied international consensus viewing the territory as occupied. Initially planned as a new with modest beginnings and slow population growth, Trump Heights has remained small and remote, housing about 26 families as of early 2025. Following Trump's re-election in November 2024, the settlement experienced a surge in interest from prospective Israeli residents, positioning it as one of the region's notable sites and prompting plans to double its population within a year and reach nearly 100 families in three years through expanded housing construction. This development underscores the site's symbolic role in Israeli-U.S. relations and its potential as a cooperative agricultural community amid the Golan's contested geopolitical status.

Geography

Location and Borders

Trump Heights is located in the northern , a basaltic plateau administered by since its capture from in the 1967 . The settlement lies approximately 20 kilometers west of the Israeli-Syrian ceasefire line, which forms the eastern boundary of the . It is positioned above the to the west, overlooking 's region, and is roughly a half-hour drive from the nearest established Israeli communities in the area. The site spans 220,000 square meters of land near the moshav of Beruchim, at an elevation of about 670 meters above . It occupies terrain previously part of the abandoned Syrian village of al-Qunaaba, destroyed during the 1967 war, and is surrounded by largely treeless, open landscape interspersed with remnants of former Syrian structures and uncleared landmine fields. The settlement's immediate borders consist of undeveloped grazing lands and restricted zones to the north, east, and south, reflecting its remote and strategically elevated position within the Golan's northern sector. To the west, it adjoins agricultural fields extending toward the Hula Valley's wetlands, while its eastern perimeter approaches de facto buffer areas adjacent to the Alpha Line established by the 1974 disengagement agreement between and . Development plans delineate the site's boundaries to accommodate up to 300 families, prioritizing residential expansion within the allocated plot amid the surrounding rugged .

Terrain and Climate

Trump Heights occupies a windy hilltop in the northern , part of a basaltic plateau characterized by rugged, rocky terrain formed from ancient volcanic eruptions. The landscape features steep cliffs, black rocks, and areas of high yellow grass, with the settlement situated at an elevation of approximately 2,220 feet (677 meters) above . Volcanic soils in the region support , including vineyards and orchards, though the terrain includes uncleared minefields from prior conflicts, limiting development in surrounding areas. The climate is Mediterranean, with hot, dry summers averaging highs around 26°C (79°F) and mild, wet winters with lows near 15°C (59°F). Precipitation is concentrated in winter months, contributing to annual rainfall estimates of 500-800 mm in the , higher in northern elevated areas due to orographic effects near . Snowfall occurs occasionally at higher elevations during winter, while strong winds are common on exposed hilltops like the settlement site.

History

Golan Heights Background

The Golan Heights constitutes a basaltic plateau spanning approximately 1,200 square kilometers in southwestern Syria, rising to elevations exceeding 2,800 meters at Mount Hermon in the north. Its terrain features steep escarpments overlooking the Sea of Galilee and upper Jordan River valley to the west, with fertile volcanic soils supporting agriculture amid rocky landscapes and dormant volcanic cones. The region serves as a vital watershed, channeling precipitation into the Jordan River system and contributing roughly one-third of Israel's freshwater via inflows to the Sea of Galilee. Under Syrian administration prior to 1967, the provided elevated positions from which Syrian artillery repeatedly shelled Israeli civilian settlements in the and , resulting in numerous casualties and infrastructure damage over the preceding two decades. These attacks, coupled with Syrian-sponsored infiltrations and efforts to divert headwaters, heightened border tensions and prompted Israeli calls for demilitarization. On April 7, 1967, an aerial clash over the area saw Israel down six Syrian MiG fighters, underscoring the escalating military confrontation. Israel captured the Golan Heights on June 9, 1967, during the final phase of the Six-Day War, overcoming heavily fortified Syrian defenses in approximately 24 hours of combat that inflicted heavy losses on both sides. The acquisition neutralized the immediate artillery threat to northern and secured control over strategic vantage points and water resources. Syria attempted to reclaim the territory in the 1973 but was repelled after initial advances. On December 14, 1981, enacted the , extending its jurisdiction, administration, and civil law to the area in response to stalled peace negotiations and persistent security concerns. The condemned the move as null and void via Resolution 497, and it remains unrecognized internationally, with most nations regarding the Golan as occupied n territory. maintains control citing defensive necessities, including prevention of renewed cross-border attacks from the elevated terrain.

Naming and Official Inception

Trump Heights, known in Hebrew as Ramat Trump, was named in honor of United States President Donald Trump following his administration's recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights. On March 25, 2019, Trump signed a presidential proclamation affirming the Golan Heights as part of Israel, marking a departure from prior U.S. policy that viewed the territory as occupied Syrian land. This decision was cited by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a pivotal factor in the naming, intended to express gratitude for what Israel described as a "bold and rightful" acknowledgment of its security needs in the strategically vital plateau. The official inception occurred on June 16, 2019, when the Israeli cabinet convened at the planned site near the existing of Kela Alon in the northwestern to approve the establishment of the new settlement. Originally scheduled for June 12, the ceremony was postponed due to snap elections but proceeded with Netanyahu presiding, unveiling a sign bearing the name Ramat Trump. The location, adjacent to the depopulated former settlement of Brukhim, was selected for its potential to support a of approximately 500 families focused on , , and . This naming aligned with Israel's broader policy of expanding settlements in the , annexed by in 1981 following its capture from in 1967, though the annexation remains unrecognized internationally except by the post-2019. The gesture drew praise from pro-Israel advocates for reinforcing bilateral ties but criticism from opponents who viewed it as provocative amid ongoing regional tensions. No residents occupied the site at inception, with development efforts emphasizing to attract .

Population and Development Efforts

Trump Heights, established in June 2019 on the site of the former Bruchim outpost, initially housed a small number of pioneering families focused on agricultural and communal development. By late 2024, the settlement's population stood at approximately 50 to 100 residents, primarily organized into 26 Jewish families engaged in farming and community building. Development efforts have accelerated since Israel's cabinet approval of an 8 million (about $2.3 million) allocation in June 2020 to initiate construction of , including for up to 300 families. Community leaders, such as Yarden Freimann, have prioritized expansion, projecting a doubling of the population within one year through new family relocations and aiming for 99 families within three years via targeted recruitment and development. These initiatives align with broader Israeli government strategies, including a December 2024 plan investing 40 million ($11 million) to double the overall population of Israeli-controlled communities, emphasizing education, employment, and incentives to attract settlers amid regional security shifts following the fall of the Assad regime in . Local efforts include agricultural expansion and tourism promotion, with the settlement drawing significant interest—over 2,000 inquiries for residency by December —bolstered by its symbolic naming and scenic location, though actual absorption remains gradual due to infrastructure constraints. Residents view U.S. political developments, including Donald Trump's 2024 reelection, as potential catalysts for enhanced support, focusing on self-sustaining growth through private and state-backed investments rather than reliance on external aid.

Governance and Administration

The Golan Heights Law, passed by the on December 14, 1981, extends the law, , and administration of to the Golan Heights, including all settlements established therein. This domestic legislation applies full Israeli civil law to the territory, encompassing property rights, municipal governance, taxation, and planning regulations, thereby integrating the Golan into legal framework without the dual legal systems observed in areas like the . Under this law, Israeli settlements in the Golan, including new developments, are treated as internal municipal expansions rather than extraterritorial outposts. Trump Heights (Hebrew: רמת טראמפ), planned on the site of a former Israeli Defense Forces outpost near , received formal Israeli government approval for establishment and funding on June 14, 2020, via a cabinet decision allocating resources for infrastructure to support up to 300 families. This authorization subjects the settlement to Israel's standard land-use and construction laws, administered through the relevant regional council and the Interior Ministry, ensuring compliance with , environmental, and building permits as part of national development policy in the annexed region. As of 2024, Trump Heights remains under active planning and partial development, with residents eligible for Israeli citizenship, national services, and security protections afforded to citizens in sovereign territory. No distinct legal challenges have arisen under Israeli jurisprudence specific to the settlement, reflecting its alignment with the post-1981 annexation status that treats the Golan as Israeli soil for administrative purposes.

Infrastructure and Planning

The planning for Trump Heights began with Israeli cabinet approval on June 14, 2020, authorizing initial practical steps for its establishment as a new community in the northern , including land preparation and foundational development. In December 2021, Interior Minister signed off on forming construction committees and designated approximately 276 dunams (about 68 hectares) for the settlement, allocating space for residential homes, public buildings, internal roads, and essential such as water and electricity networks. This phase emphasized modular, low-density housing suitable for the remote, elevated terrain to encourage family settlement amid regional considerations. Infrastructure development has focused on enabling rapid residential expansion, with dozens of plots prepared by November 2024 featuring newly paved asphalt roads, street lighting via lampposts, and pre-installed utility connections for water, sewage, and power to facilitate immediate building permits. These enhancements integrate with broader initiatives approved in December 2021, which allocate over 3 billion shekels (approximately $900 million) for regional transportation upgrades, including widening and connectivity improvements to link remote sites like Trump Heights to major highways such as Route 98. Planning documents prioritize resilience against harsh winters and potential conflict, incorporating reinforced utilities and proximity to existing regional council services for emergency response. Ongoing efforts as of late 2024 include proposals to expand lots and integrate tourism-related facilities, such as guesthouses, while adhering to environmental guidelines for the basalt-rich landscape to minimize erosion and preserve . The Regional Council oversees implementation, aiming for phased growth to reach dozens of households within years, supported by state subsidies for off-grid energy solutions like solar arrays to address the area's isolation.

Demographics and Community

Population Composition

Trump Heights maintains a small, homogeneous population primarily composed of Jewish Israeli families. As of January 2025, the settlement is home to 26 such families residing in temporary caravans and makeshift homes, reflecting its status as a nascent aimed at expansion. These residents, drawn from various parts of , include pioneering groups focused on agricultural and communal development, with no reported presence of non-Jewish minorities such as or , consistent with its designation as a Jewish moshav-style outpost in the . Earlier data from Israeli authorities indicated a of around 102 individuals by the end of 2023, underscoring gradual growth amid ongoing challenges. The community's demographic profile aligns with broader patterns in Jewish settlements, emphasizing veterans and ideologically motivated settlers, though specific breakdowns by age, origin, or remain limited due to the settlement's scale.

Social and Cultural Aspects

The community in Trump Heights consists primarily of around 26 Jewish families living in and temporary housing, fostering a tight-knit centered on familial and mutual support amid the settlement's nascent stage. Daily social interactions are limited by the small population and geographic isolation, with residents relying on nearby settlements for communal services such as ; for instance, children attend improvised daycare programs in adjacent communities following the temporary closure of regional schools due to security concerns in 2024. Cultural life reflects the broader Israeli settler ethos in the Golan Heights, emphasizing Zionist pioneering values and Jewish heritage, though specific local events or institutions remain underdeveloped as of early 2025. Residents have voiced aspirations for cultural growth, including potential ties to regional facilities like arts centers hosting community events, but current activities are informal and family-oriented rather than formalized. The settlement's social fabric is bolstered by shared optimism for expansion, with families citing alignment with pro-Israel U.S. policies as a motivational factor for enduring hardships like provisional living conditions.

Economy

Agricultural and Local Industries

The agricultural economy of Trump Heights draws on the ' fertile basaltic soils, which support diverse crop cultivation including deciduous fruits such as apples and cherries, vineyards, olive groves, and field crops. production, encompassing and , further bolsters local output, with the region's high-altitude yielding premium products like milk and meat. These activities align with broader patterns, where agriculture accounts for a significant portion of amid limited industrial alternatives. As a nascent settlement established in with only 26 families by January 2025, Trump Heights features small-scale farming operations rather than commercial estates, though infrastructure plans anticipate growth in orchards and possibly specialized crops like blueberries. Local industries remain underdeveloped, focusing on farm-based processing and direct sales, with wine production from nearby vineyards exemplifying value-added potential in the area. Challenges include the site's remote, mine-adjacent terrain, which constrains expansion, yet government incentives promote to sustain rural viability. Overall, farming provides foundational livelihoods, supplemented by emerging ties, though full industrialization lags behind population targets.

Tourism and Economic Prospects

The economy of the , including the area surrounding Trump Heights, primarily relies on and , with limited industrial activity. Local communities operate farms producing cherries, apples, and cattle, alongside a and sector that draws Israeli visitors for scenic views, trails, and culinary experiences featuring regional produce and meats. Trump Heights itself, as a nascent settlement, contributes minimally to these sectors but benefits from the broader , which includes wineries, breweries, and nature reserves attracting over 1 million visitors annually pre-conflict. The site's remote location amid high grasslands poses development challenges, yet plans allocate funds for and to support up to 300 families, potentially spurring local services and ventures like farms and nature-therapy programs. Prospects for tourism expansion hinge on regional security stabilization and marketing the site's novelty as "Trump Heights," with residents anticipating boosted investment following Donald Trump's 2024 U.S. election victory, similar to a reported uptick in visitors post-2019 naming. Israeli government initiatives, including a 2022-2025 plan for Golan settlement growth and tourism infrastructure like hotels, aim to double populations in areas like Ramat Trump, fostering economic integration through public facilities and visitor amenities. However, ongoing border tensions with Syria and Lebanon, exacerbated by 2023-2025 conflicts, have curtailed northern tourism, necessitating recovery efforts to revive pre-war levels.

Political Context

Recognition of Israeli Sovereignty

Israel formally extended its sovereignty over the , including the territory encompassing Trump Heights, via the passed by the on December 14, 1981, which applied Israeli civil law, jurisdiction, and administration to the area captured from during the 1967 . Under this law, Trump Heights operates as an integral part of , subject to Israeli governance, municipal planning, and legal frameworks, with residents holding Israeli or residency rights equivalent to those in undisputed Israeli territory. On March 25, 2019, U.S. President Donald Trump signed a presidential proclamation recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, stating that "the Golan Heights are part of the State of Israel" and affirming the U.S. position that Israel's control since 1967 serves its security interests against threats from Syria and other actors. This was the first explicit U.S. endorsement of Israel's 1981 annexation, reversing decades of American policy that viewed the territory as occupied pending final-status negotiations. The move directly inspired the naming of Trump Heights (Hebrew: Ramat Trump), with Israeli officials unveiling the settlement's nameplate on June 16, 2019, as a tribute to the recognition, positioning the site within what Israel and the U.S. regard as sovereign territory. Internationally, the proclamation faced criticism, with the United Nations and most governments maintaining that the Golan Heights remains occupied Syrian territory, rendering Israel's annexation—and by extension, developments like Trump Heights—illegitimate under international law absent a negotiated settlement. UN Security Council Resolution 497 (1981) declared the Golan Heights Law "null and void and without international legal effect," a stance reaffirmed in subsequent resolutions and echoed by entities like the European Union. The U.S. recognition remains exceptional, with no other major powers following suit as of 2025, though Trump reaffirmed support for Israel's sovereignty over the Golan, including Trump Heights, during his second term. Despite this, Israeli authorities continue to administer the settlement unilaterally, integrating it into national infrastructure projects and defense perimeters justified by strategic imperatives.

Ties to US Policy under Trump

The establishment of Trump Heights, known in Hebrew as Ramat Trump, was a direct tribute to the Trump administration's recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights. On March 21, 2019, President Donald Trump tweeted that after 52 years, the United States should fully recognize Israel's sovereignty over the territory, marking a departure from prior U.S. policy that had treated the Golan as occupied Syrian land since Israel's capture of it in the 1967 Six-Day War. Four days later, on March 25, 2019, Trump signed a presidential proclamation formalizing this recognition, stating that Israel's control of the Golan was necessary for its security against external threats, making the U.S. the first country to endorse Israel's 1981 annexation. In response, Israeli Prime Minister announced on June 16, 2019, the creation of a new community in the northern , near the former Syrian town of Hader and the border crossing, naming it Trump Heights to honor Trump's "historic" decision and broader support for , including the relocation of the U.S. embassy to . This initiative revived a dormant settlement plan from the , positioning the site as the first new Israeli community in the Golan in over two decades and symbolizing strengthened bilateral ties under the Trump administration. The naming reflected Trump's policy of prioritizing Israel's security claims over longstanding international consensus, as articulated in the proclamation's emphasis on the Golan's strategic value against threats from and Iran-backed forces. This shift contrasted with previous U.S. administrations' support for negotiations returning the territory to , underscoring a causal link between the policy change and Israel's gesture of naming the settlement after Trump.

Controversies

The annexation of the by through the , enacted on December 14, 1981, extending Israeli civil law to the captured from in the 1967 , prompted immediate international condemnation. United Nations Security Council Resolution 497, adopted unanimously on December 17, 1981, declared the annexation "null and void and without international legal effect," demanding that rescind the measure, a stance reaffirmed in subsequent UN resolutions, including one on December 4, 2024, which reiterated the call for Israeli withdrawal to pre-1967 lines. The prevailing international legal view, as articulated in UN resolutions and state practice, holds the as occupied Syrian territory under the of 1949, prohibiting the transfer of civilian populations into occupied land via Article 49(6), rendering Israeli settlements, including the planned established in 2019 near , prima facie illegal. maintains claims rooted in its pre-1967 administration, viewing the as a violation of the UN Charter's prohibition on territorial acquisition by force under Article 2(4), while disputes the applicability of the , arguing the territory's status as disputed rather than occupied and citing security imperatives from Syrian attacks pre-1967. Obligations of non-recognition, derived from resolutions like 497 and principles akin to the , bind third states to withhold acknowledgment of the , with most countries, including members, adhering to this position despite varying enforcement. The ' departure from this consensus occurred on March 25, 2019, when President issued a recognizing Israeli over the , citing strategic stability and Israel's defensive needs, a policy shift that drew criticism for undermining norms against unilateral recognition of conquests. This recognition, while not altering the non-recognition stance of over 190 UN member states, intensified disputes by challenging the erga omnes obligation to reject effective control changes via , as analyzed in legal scholarship emphasizing risks to global order from selective sovereignty endorsements. No formal adjudication has occurred specifically on the , unlike advisory opinions on comparable occupations, leaving the disputes framed by UN bodies where voting patterns reflect geopolitical blocs rather than unanimous consensus.

Regional Security Concerns

The northern location of Trump Heights near the Israeli-Syrian border exposes the settlement to persistent cross-border threats from Iranian-backed militias and other armed groups operating in southwestern . These entities, including remnants of affiliates and local jihadist factions, have conducted sporadic rocket and drone attacks on Israeli positions in the since the escalation following the October 7, 2023, assault on , aiming to divert resources and pressure Israeli defenses. 's capture of the in the 1967 was driven by existential security imperatives, as the elevated terrain provides critical oversight of Syrian military movements and safeguards vital water sources like the , which supplies over 30% of 's freshwater. Hezbollah, Iran's primary proxy in the region and designated a terrorist organization by the , has directly targeted the area; on November 6, 2024, the group launched rockets that triggered air-raid sirens in Trump Heights, coinciding with Donald Trump's U.S. election victory speech. This incident underscored the settlement's vulnerability amid broader Hezbollah barrages—over 8,000 rockets fired into northern by late 2024—prompting mass evacuations of approximately 60,000 residents from communities, including parts of the . In response, has intensified preemptive strikes on Iranian supply lines in and established buffer zones in since early 2025 to dismantle launch sites and prevent infiltrations, reflecting a doctrine of active defense against proxy threats rather than passive patrols. Ongoing instability in , exacerbated by the December 2024 fall of the Assad regime, has amplified risks of ungoverned spaces enabling arms smuggling and terrorist regrouping near the monitored by the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF). Israeli defense officials have cited these dynamics, including potential Hezbollah rearmament via , as rationale for demographic expansion in the , announcing plans in March 2025 to double the population to bolster strategic depth against encirclement by hostile actors. Such measures prioritize deterrence, as evidenced by the 's role in intercepting Syrian artillery during past conflicts, though they entail sustained IDF presence and vulnerability to tactics employed by non-state adversaries.

Druze and Local Perspectives

The Druze population in the , numbering approximately 23,000 as of recent estimates, predominantly rejects Israeli sovereignty over the territory, maintaining strong ties to and largely refusing offers of Israeli citizenship, with only about 10-15% accepting it historically. This stance stems from their self-identification as Syrian , with community leaders emphasizing loyalty to despite the Assad regime's instability. In response to U.S. President Donald Trump's March 25, 2019, recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the , hundreds of gathered in protests in the northern town of , waving Syrian and flags while denouncing the move as provocative and irrelevant to their daily realities under Israeli administration. leaders, including those from the Golan's "Committee of Resistance," described the proclamation as an escalation of occupation policies that disregards their aspirations for reunification with , though it prompted no immediate shift in ground control or their access to services. While the majority of Golan Druze expressed opposition, sentiments were not entirely uniform; a minority welcomed the recognition for enhancing security against regional threats like incursions, citing improved economic stability under Israeli rule compared to Syria's chaos. Local vintners and farmers in areas near settlement expansions, including the vicinity of Trump Heights (Ramat Trump), have voiced concerns that U.S.-backed Israeli policies provoke cross-border tensions without addressing their community's cultural isolation or demands for . Perspectives on Trump Heights itself, established in 2020 as a Jewish settlement in the northern to honor the U.S. recognition, align with broader resistance to demographic shifts; Druze activists have criticized such naming and development as symbolic assertions of permanence that undermine their narrative of temporary occupation, though direct protests targeting the site have been limited amid its sparse initial population of under 20 families. figures continue to resist Israeli efforts to portray the as beneficiaries of sovereignty, prioritizing pan-Syrian Druze over integration.

References

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  39. https://jerusalem.24fm.ps/10176.html
  40. https://www.jns.org/israel-approves-1-billion-shekel-plan-to-develop-golan-heights-surrounding-areas/
  41. https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2021-12-26/ty-article/.premium/israel-approves-mammoth-golan-heights-plan-to-double-population/0000017f-dbf3-df62-a9ff-dff7d0c90000
  42. https://www.newarab.com/news/israeli-annexed-golans-trump-heights-settlers-ready-expansion
  43. https://www.themarker.com/realestate/2025-02-14/ty-article-magazine/.highlight/00000194-fe21-d1d7-a9d5-fe65d8e40000
  44. https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/11/08/world/trump-israeli-settlement/
  45. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-717520
  46. https://jns.org/as-trump-settles-in-a-golan-town-named-for-him-grows/
  47. https://www.golan.org.il/en/place/nahalot/
  48. https://tourgolan.org.il/en/agritourism-in-the-golan/
  49. https://forward.com/israel/448892/one-year-later-is-the-golans-desolate-trump-heights-a-hoax/
  50. https://golan-marsad.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/The-Israeli-Occupation-Government-Plan-to-Consolidate-and-Expand-its-Settlement-Project-in-the-Occupied-Syrian-Golan-2022-2025.pdf
  51. https://www.jpost.com/consumerism/article-865555
  52. https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/presidential-actions/proclamation-recognizing-golan-heights-part-state-israel/
  53. https://www.npr.org/2019/03/25/706588932/trump-formally-recognizes-israeli-sovereignty-over-golan-heights
  54. https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/golan-heights-whats-stake-trumps-recognition
  55. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-47697717
  56. https://thinc-israel.org/articles/the-us-recognition-of-israeli-sovereignty-over-the-golan-heights-an-international-law-perspective/
  57. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/american-journal-of-international-law/article/united-states-recognizes-israeli-sovereignty-over-the-golan-heights/B634F400CE33ED5617E18B92AB33E7EC
  58. https://www.alestiklal.net/en/article/why-trump-once-again-backed-israel-s-alleged-sovereignty-over-the-golan-heights
  59. https://www.congress.gov/crs_external_products/IN/PDF/IN11081/IN11081.1.pdf
  60. https://www.cnn.com/2019/06/17/politics/trump-heights-golan-settlement-us-israel-scli-intl
  61. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jun/17/minefields-and-ruins-israeli-settlement-called-trump-built-on-conquered-land
  62. https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-signing-presidential-proclamation-recognizing-israels-sovereign-right-golan-heights/
  63. https://www.un.org/unispal/document/the-syrian-golan-draft-ga-resolution-22nov24/
  64. https://voelkerrechtsblog.org/new-peak-in-the-dispute-concerning-the-golan-heights/
  65. https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/un-general-assembly-demands-israel-withdraw-from-syria-s-occupied-golan-heights/3412656
  66. https://gpil.jura.uni-bonn.de/2019/04/non-recognition-of-israeli-annexation-of-the-occupied-syrian-golan/
  67. https://progressive.org/latest/us-recognition-golan-annexation-a-threat-to-world-order-zunes-190325/
  68. https://www.crisisgroup.org/trigger-list/iran-usisrael-trigger-list/flashpoints/golan-heights-and-southwest-syria
  69. https://www.jns.org/air-raid-sirens-sound-at-trump-heights-on-golan/
  70. https://www.harmoon.org/en/researches/israeli/
  71. https://www.tbsnews.net/worldbiz/middle-east/israel-plans-double-population-occupied-golan-citing-threats-syria-1019586
  72. https://www.reuters.com/article/world/druze-on-golan-heights-reject-trump-backing-for-israeli-sovereignty-idUSKCN1R31SV/
  73. https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2019/04/israel-us-syria-donald-trump-bashar-al-assad-golan-heights.html
  74. https://www.arabnews.com/node/1471936/amp
  75. https://enewspaper.latimes.com/infinity/article_share.aspx?guid=31137e25-101f-49c3-a2c4-71f08cbcc947
  76. https://www.facebook.com/trtworld/posts/druze-leaders-in-syria-and-the-occupied-golan-heights-continue-to-resist-israels/1082185587277015/
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