Tel Aviv, April 24 (RHC)-- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he plans to name a new settlement in the occupied Golan Heights after President Donald Trump of the United States. "in gratitude" for his recognition of Israel's claim over the strategic plateau.

Emboldened Netanyahu, who has been on a trip to the occupied region along with his family for the Jewish week-long Passover holiday, said in a video message that he would submit a resolution calling for "a new community on the Golan Heights" to be named after "President Donald J. Trump."

In a highly provocative move on March 25th last year, the U.S. president signed a proclamation recognizing Israel's "sovereignty" over the Syrian territory on the direction of a number of his advisers, most notably his son-in-law Jared Kushner.  

Damascus strongly condemned the move and called it a "blatant attack on the sovereignty and territorial integrity" of Syria.  The Arab League also denounced the decision, saying, "Trump's recognition does not change the area's status."

Many countries, including Iran, Russia and Turkey, along with the United Nations Security Council have also lambasted Trump's provocative move.

In 1967, Israel waged a full-scale war on Arab territories, during which it occupied a large swathe of Golan and annexed it in 1981, a move never recognized by the international community. Syria has repeatedly reaffirmed its sovereignty over the Heights, saying the territory must be completely restored to its control.

Israel has also said separately that, in appreciation of Trump, it plans to name a proposed train station near the Western Wall of Jerusalem after him.