ONTARIO — As Palestinian rockets were bombarding civilian locations inside Israel, President Donald Trump officially recognized the Golan Heights as Israel’s sovereign territory this past Monday. Rabbi William Hallbrook of Sar Shalom Messianic Center, and one of his leaders, Steve McElhatten, both applauded the President’s bold move.
“As a Messianic Jewish Rabbi, I support our government’s recognition of Israel’s sovereignty of the Golan Heights. GOD’s word tells us that in the last days the Almighty will bring back a remnant of Israel to the Promised Land. This has happened as promised,” says Hallbrook, whose congregation meets at 2510 West Fourth Street in Ontario.
During the ceremony on Monday, President Trump stated that under his administration, “the unbreakable alliance between United States and Israel has never been stronger.”
McElhatten believes that the Trump Administration has been a great ally to Israel, recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and now the Golan as Israeli territory. “Scripture tells us that, “those who bless Israel will be blessed”, and I pray that God’s great promise will result in continued blessings being poured out on our country.”
With the declaration, the U.S. State Department will be updating all government maps to reflect the change in policy. Presently the maps say the Golan is “Israeli occupied territories.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
“Just as Israel stood tall in 1967, just as it stood tall in 1973, Israel stands tall today. We hold the high ground and we shall never give it up,”
Both Hallbrook and McElhatten agree the Golan Heights is a strategic area for defending Israel from anti-Semitic forces who are calling for a genocide of the Jewish people.
“Having been to this border with Syria many times, it is easy to see how Israel’s enemies have used that high ground to launch missiles and mortars into the heart of Israel inflicting massive casualties,” says McElhatten. McElhatten has been to Israel a total of five times, leading tours of over fifty tourists . Hallbrook is scheduled to visit this Fall.
The position of Hallbrook and McElhatten on the Golan Declaration, along with recent staunch support from the area goes counter to past consensus. In 2005, a local rabbi and Jewish residents in the Mansfield area supported Israel’s withdraw from the Gaza Strip in exchange for peace with the Palestinians.
An image of the CIA’s map of Israel taken on March 28, 2019, that refers to the Golan Heights as “Israeli occupied.” (Library of Congress)
Internationally, the Trump Declaration was met with rabid opposition, with the United Nations Security Council voicing its opposition, and the European Union (EU), objecting to the U.S. recognition. Coincidentally, the EU is a trading partner with Iran. Historically , Israel took over the Golan Heights from Syria in 1967 after it was attacked during the Six Day War. Israel later defended the Golan in 1973 in the Yom Kippur War, and annexed it in 1981.
“Just as Israel stood tall in 1967, just as it stood tall in 1973, Israel stands tall today. We hold the high ground and we shall never give it up,” declared a grateful Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “We would have to wait nearly half a century later until this moment in the room (Golan declaration), to translate our military victory into a diplomatic victory. And that is why Mr. President, your decision to recognize Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights is so historic,” added Netanyahu.
“As the world’s only Jewish State, Israel has the right not only to dwell in the Land, but to be able to protect it.” says Hallbrook.
View the PBS News Hour video below of the press conference regarding the Golan Heights with President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. (13 min. duration)
