Netanyahu to Putin: Golan Heights to Remain Under Israeli Control

Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, told Russian President Vladimir Putin that the disputed Golan Heights would remain part of the Jewish state. He added that Israel was doing everything possible so that modern weapons coming from Syria did not fall into the hands of Hezbollah.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Russian President Vladimir Putin in a meeting on Thursday that the Golan Heights would remain under Israel’s control.

“In regard to the Golan Heights, we cannot return to the days and times when our villages were shot at from the Golan Heights, therefore, whether within the framework of an agreement or without one, the Golan Heights will remain part of [our] sovereign territory,” Netanyahu said.

“We are doing everything we can to stop the appearance of super modern weaponry coming from Syria does not end up in the hands of Hezbollah,” Netanyahu added.

The Golan Heights is a disputed territory that was a part of Syria before Israel seized the area in 1967 during the Six-Day War.

Syria insists that Israel should fully withdraw to the pre-1967 border, however, Israel is unwilling to accept such terms as it would give Syria access to the Sea of Galilee, which is Israel's main source of fresh water.

Earlier this week, UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura described the Golan Heights as illegally annexed.