Israel’s government approved funding on Sunday to establish a new town in the contested Golan Heights that will be named “Trump Heights” after President Trump.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked the Trump administration for recognizing Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights at the start of the cabinet meeting, before members voted in favor of a budget for building the settlement, the Jerusalem Post reported.
Netanyahu previously announced the plans for Ramat Trump — Hebrew for “Trump Heights” — last year and unveiled a sign with gold lettering on the planned site.
Established more than 30 years ago, the original neighborhood, previously known as Bruchim, was home to less than a dozen people.
The plans for the new town, which will house 300 families, have been budgeted at 8 million shekels ($2.3 million), the report said.
Netanyahu on Sunday also praised Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for authorizing sanctions against anyone involved in an International Criminal Court investigation of Americans or US allies.
He claimed the international court “made up absurd accusations against Israel, including the outrageous claim that the presence of Jews in the heart of our homeland is a war crime.”
“I thank President Trump and the American government again for standing on the side of truth and justice,” the prime minister said, according to the report.
The green light for funding came on Trump’s 74th birthday.
With Post wires