In a special June 16 session on the Golan Heights, Israel’s government affirmed the establishment of a new locality named after US President Donald Trump. During the session, a giant sign was unveiled reading “Trump Heights” in large gold letters topped by the American and Israeli flags. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman clapped their hands enthusiastically.

“President Trump is a very great friend of our country,” Netanyahu said in an emotional speech. “A friend who did things for the country that were not done in the past and should have been done in the name of justice and truth.” Friedman also seemed deeply touched. In his speech, he said that Israel and the United States are becoming closer and cooperating more and that these developments are important to Israel, to the United States, to the region and to the entire world.

No cornerstone was laid for the new locality during the ceremony because no one knows exactly where Trump Heights will be established. The proposal submitted to the government reads, “Out of our great appreciation for the activities of the 45th US President Donald Trump on behalf of the State of Israel in a broad variety of spheres, and as a way to express our thanks for American recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Israel and recognition of Israeli sovereignty on the Golan Heights, initiatives that were led by President Trump, it was decided to initiate the establishment of a new communal locality in the Golan Heights to be named ‘Trump Heights.’ … It will probably be situated in the region of the Kela locality.”

The timing was very appropriate for Netanyahu, who needs to mollify the Israeli right just before another round of elections and political initiatives after he was unsuccessful in assembling a coalition after the April 9 elections.