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.
Source: The Hindu
