Latest in settlements
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has announced that the United States will “no longer recognize Israeli settlements as per se inconsistent with international law”—a major break from U.S. practice.
A constitutional challenge against the February Settlement Regularization Law is pending before the Supreme Court of Israel. The law aims to “legalize” illegal settlements in the West Bank by, among other means, expropriating land privately owned by Palestinians. On Dec.
Last week, after years of stays and delays, the Israeli government finally enforced a ruling of the country’s High Court and began dismantling the settlement of Amona. In scenes of resistance designed to haunt policymakers who favor further withdrawals, Israeli security forces dragged wailing protesters out of homes and synagogues.
U.S.-Iran Tensions Escalate with Tit-for-Tat Missile Tests and Sanctions
Despite what seemed like a change of direction from the Trump administration on settlements, the Israeli Knesset just passed the Settlement Regularization Law, which aims to “legalize” illegal settlements in the West Bank. 60 MKs voted in favor of the law and 52 voted against. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not make it back from his visit to London in time for the vote.
Russia’s Syria Pivot Continues at Astana Peace Talks
Editor’s Note: This piece originally appeared in Markaz.
Notwithstanding the distractions of the holiday season, a considerable debate has erupted over the significance of U.N. Security Council resolution 2334, which the Security Council adopted last Friday with the United States abstaining.
The Israeli government’s deadline to comply with a court-imposed order to demolish Amona, an illegal Israeli outpost in the West Bank, has spurred proposed legislation that aims to “legalize” many other settlements in the area.