The United States has recently made a significant shift in its stance on Israeli settlements on the West Bank, which is generating widespread discussion. For the past four decades, most nations, including the US, have deemed these settlements as breaches of international law. However, in a surprising turn, the US has now stated that it no longer views these Israeli settlements as violations of international law.
A Brief History of the US Stance on West Bank Settlements
The United States had regarded the Israeli settlements on the West Bank as illegitimate since 1978. It was one of the many countries that held this viewpoint. Yet, there was a noticeable change in 2016 when the US refrained from vetoing a UN resolution calling for an end to said Israeli settlements. The recent declaration by the United States directly contradicts this four-decade-long policy.
The Situation in West Bank
The West Bank, a territory one and a half times the size of Goa, is a landlocked region located in West Asia. Notable for its substantial share of the western Dead Sea, this area underwent capture by Jordan after the Arab-Israeli War in 1948. Nevertheless, Israel managed to reclaim it amidst the Six-Day War of 1967 and has occupied the region ever since. Currently, the West Bank houses approximately 130 formal Israeli settlements cohabiting with around 2.6 million Palestinians.
Global Viewpoint on West Bank Settlements
The international consensus on West Bank settlements largely leans towards the sentiment that they are illegal and the region is an occupied territory. This belief is endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly, the UN Security Council, and the International Court of Justice, all of whom argue that the settlements are in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention. According to this convention, enacted in 1949, “an occupying power shall not deport or transfer parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies.”
Some Global Stance on West Bank Settlements
| Organization/Country | Stance on West Bank Settlements |
|---|---|
| The United Nations General Assembly | Settlements are violative of the Fourth Geneva Convention |
| The UN Security Council | Settlements are violative of the Fourth Geneva Convention |
| The International Court of Justice | Settlements are violative of the Fourth Geneva Convention |
| Most countries | Settlements are illegal and West Bank is an occupied territory. |
The Prospects for Future Negotiations
In the Oslo Accords of the 1990s, both Israel and the Palestinians mutually agreed that the status of settlements would be determined through negotiations. Regrettably, these discussions have been stagnant for several years now. Such a stalemate necessitates unified global intervention to facilitate a peaceful resolution to the Israel-Palestine conflict.
