washington israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu ask u.s. president donald trump wednesday recognize israeli sovereignty golan heights territory israel seize syria 1967 middle east war world consider golan high plateau northeastern israel southwestern syria occupy israel annex territory 1981 move recognize internationally brief israeli foreign media meet trump white house netanyahu ask whether raise golan issue yes reply ask u.s. president respond say say surprise request netanyahu elaborate israel make similar request obama administration 2015 reject diplomats say time israel long covet sovereignty golan unclear whether white house would take step give could complicate syrian conflict unite state recognize israel claim would likely anger syrian president bashar al-assad back russia iran war islamist militants rebel group trump administration talk work closely russia end syrian conflict recognize israel sovereignty golan could undermine efforts could also spur iran proxies syria particularly lebanese shi ite militia hezbollah turn focus israel target force station across golan heights israel warn hezbollah fight six-week war 2006 attack territory carry occasional air strike syrian portion golan target hezbollah fighters include units smuggle arm israel argument sovereignty territory base partly fact syria splinter past five years fight extent israel say one could hand back golan unite state israel look forge ever-tighter relationship also possible trump show unpredictable time could decide recognize israel sovereignty well around 25,000 israeli settlers territory many work agriculture 20,000 druze syrian citizenship many relatives live across valley syria netanyahu ask trump recognize israeli sovereignty golan heights