In a moment, I will sign a presidential proclamation recognising Israel's sovereign right over the Golan Heights.

The state of Israel took control of the Golan Heights in 1967 to safeguard its security from external threats.

Today, aggressive action by Iran and terrorist groups in southern Syria, including Hezbollah, continue to make the Golan Heights a potential launching ground for attacks against Israel.

Very violent attacks.

Any possible future peace agreement must account for Israel's need to defend itself from Syria, Iran, and other regional threats.

We do not want to see another attack like the one suffered this morning, north of Tel Aviv.

But Israel has never had a better friend than you.

Thank you for your leadership, thank you for your friendship, and thank you for all you've done to make the alliance between America and Israel stronger and greater than ever.

This was a long time in the making.

(We) should have taken place many decades ago.

And maybe you can give this to the people in Israel for me.

Thank you.