The State Department warned Israel today that any change in the status of the Golan Heights would “violate international law.” Department deputy spokesman Alan Romberg said the United States’ position had been made clear to the Israeli government today.
But Romberg said the U.S. was not sure whether the Knesset was considering an extension of Israeli law to the Golan or an outright annexation. However, he said the U.S., which had not been told in advance of the Israeli plans, would be “equally concerned” by either change.
“Our view has been and remains that any unilateral change in the status of the Golan Heights or any of the territories occupied by Israel in the 1967 (Six-Day) War would be contrary to the UN Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338 under which Camp David and all Middle East peace negotiations since 1967 have been based,” Romberg said.
The spokesman did not know what effect the Israeli action would have on the Camp David process, although he noted that Golan was not included in the Camp David accords. He also could not give any reason for Israel acting on the Golan at this time.
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