US’s Recognition of Israel’s West Bank Settlements
iasparliament
November 23, 2019
Why in news?
The U.S. administration recently declared that the Israeli settlements on the West Bank are not illegal. Click here to know more on this.
What does this indicate?
The decision is in line with President Donald Trump’s Israel policy, which has unconditionally favoured the Jewish nation.
In December 2017, Mr. Trump announced that the U.S. would recognise Jerusalem, a disputed city, as Israel’s capital.
This ignored the international consensus that the status of Jerusalem should be settled as part of a peace agreement.
In March 2019, the US administration recognised the Golan Heights.
Golan Heights was seized from Syria in the 1967 war by Israel which has occupied it ever since, as part of Israel.
What are the implications of the decision?
The UN General Assembly, the Security Council and the International Court of Justice have all stated that the Israeli settlements on the West Bank are illegal.
The UN Security Council has asked Israel to stall the settlement activities, but Israel has hardly paid any attention to international opinion.
Israel’s defiance of international opinion on West Bank settlements is now finding U.S. support.
The Trump administration’s declaration challenges international laws and consensus on the issue.
With its recognition of the Jewish settlements, US has strengthened Israel’s religious right, which wants the settlements to be annexed.
It also complicates the already-stalled peace process between the Israelis and the Palestinians.
If Israel goes ahead with annexation of the settlements, that will nearly put an end to the process towards the two-state solution.
