by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief
BOGOTÁ, COLOMBIA (Worthy News) – Colombia has formally recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, becoming only the second nation in the world after the United States to do so.
Colombia’s Foreign Ministry said the strategic plateau is vital to Israel’s national security amid continued instability across the Middle East. The government said Israeli control of the Golan Heights represents an “essential component” of Israel’s defense and its ability to protect its citizens.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar welcomed what he called a “historic decision,” thanking newly inaugurated Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella following discussions between the two leaders. Sa’ar said the move demonstrated the Colombian president’s commitment to Israel and its security.
Israel captured most of the Golan Heights from Syria during the 1967 Six-Day War and formally applied Israeli law to the territory in 1981. Most nations have continued to regard the plateau as Syrian territory, but President Donald Trump formally recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights on behalf of the United States in March 2019.
Colombia’s decision marks a significant shift in Bogotá’s relationship with Jerusalem and comes as the new Colombian government moves rapidly to strengthen ties with Israel.
Golan Heights Also Holds Significant Energy Potential
Beyond its military importance, the Golan Heights has long attracted attention because of its potential energy resources.
In 2015, Afek Oil and Gas, a subsidiary of U.S.-based Genie Energy, announced that exploratory drilling in the southern Golan Heights had encountered an unusually thick oil-bearing geological layer. The company’s chief geologist said the oil-bearing strata measured roughly 350 meters thick, compared with an average of about 20 to 30 meters in many conventional discoveries. Early estimates raised the possibility that the formation could contain billions of barrels of oil, potentially enough to dramatically alter Israel’s long-term energy picture.
However, those early findings did not establish a commercially recoverable reserve. Afek continued exploratory drilling, and commercial production required additional government approvals. By 2017, Genie Energy suspended the drilling program after determining that the targeted formation did not contain oil or natural gas in commercially producible quantities.
Even so, the discovery underscored another dimension of the Golan Heights’ strategic importance: the territory overlooks northern Israel and southern Syria, contains vital water resources, and has also demonstrated significant hydrocarbon potential beneath its surface.
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