USA full turnaround to the benefit of Israel

US Secretary of state Mike Pompeo had not begun his press conference in Washington on Monday evening, there were reactions in Israel and the Palestinian territories. Between the issues of Iraq and Hong Kong, Pompeo announced a great reversal of the American policy in the middle East: Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank returns failed in the opinion of the government, Donald trump not per se against international law.

Since 1978, had represented US-governments, the opposite view. Now, Pompeo said, the legality of any settlement would have to clarify Israeli courts. 600'000 settlers live in the West Bank and in East Jerusalem in more than 200 settlements.

Jerusalem

Pompeo welcomes justified the step, so that the current Position is "inconsistent", so contradictory, this result was a legal analysis. That the previous Position did not promote peace in the Region, was evident, said Pompeo: "We recognize the reality in the field." Settlements are considered illegal, will not bring peace. While the decision was welcomed in Israel, said Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said the decision contradicts international law.

Pompeo called on Israelis and Palestinians to negotiations. The United States would have increased the "probability" of negotiations, said Pompeo – without explaining, making. He assured that the decision of Washington would constitute no precedent for a U.S. Position on the Western Bank of the Jordan.

The US Secretary of state Mike Pompeo at a press conference on 18. November 2019, the controversial Position of the Trump Administration was announced. Photo: Yara Nardi

President Trump had repeatedly announced the "Deal of the century" for peace in the Middle East, but the presentation of his plans postponed several times. According to his middle East envoy, his son-in-law Jared Kushner, is not to be expected that a Palestinian state is proposed. Trump had deleted the Palestinians hundreds of millions in support, in order to force them to the negotiating table.

Trump had already made other decisions that, in Israel, applause, joined, and in the case of the Palestinians protests triggered. The President in may 2018, the US Embassy from Tel Aviv had moved to Jerusalem, Israel as a United capital city referred to. The Palestinians claim, however, East Jerusalem as the capital of their state. In addition, Trump had declared in April, annexation in 1967 of Syria conquered Golan heights by Israel is illegal.

From the Palestinian side, there was fierce criticism

He wanted to help Prime Benjamin Netanyahu during the election campaign. Also this decision could be seen as support for Netanyahu, and his rival Benny Gantz from the blue-and-white Alliance struggling for the formation of the government. "The United States to correct a historical wrong decision," said Netanyahu. Settlers were lists of "foreign colonists".

Gantz, the to forms by Wednesday, a new coalition for Israel, applauded the US government also. Gantz stressed, however, that the fate of the settlements and residents should be decided by agreements, security needs considered and peace promoted.

"All settlement activities are according to international law illegal and the viability of the Two-state solution caves."Federica Mogherini, EU foreign officer

representatives of the settlers demanded to Annex the occupied West Bank. The demanded that the settlers related party New rights, quickly, the Israeli sovereignty to the settlements to expand. "The Jewish people has the legal and moral rights in its ancestral homeland," tweeted the former Minister of justice, Ajelet Schaked. "It is good that the largest super power in the world to pronounce the truth and this longstanding injustice is corrected."

On the Palestinian side, however, there was an expected fierce criticism. The spokesman of President Mahmoud Abbas described the Declaration as "null and void". According to the Palestinian middle East negotiator Saeb Ereket the United States to replace international law "by the law of the jungle". In the UN Resolution 2334 of December 2016, and Israel is invited to a complete settlement freeze in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem.

Thank you Pres @realDonaldTrump & @SecPompeo for recognizing that there is nothing illegal about the Jewish communities in Judea & Samaria,

The Jewish People have the legal & moral right to live in their ancient homeland

Now is the time to apply our sovereignty to these communities

— ????? ??? ayelet shaked (@Ayelet__Shaked) November 18, 2019

The UN-advises the security Council on Wednesday afternoon on Washington's decision. EU foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, said on Monday evening in Brussels, the Position of the EU countries was unchanged: "All settlement activities are according to international law illegal and the viability of the Two-state solution caves."

The Israeli non-governmental organization Peace Now, which monitors the settlements and documented, criticized the U.S. u-turn: Trump support the interests of the extreme Right. According to the organization of the construction of the settlements has accelerated since the Trumps electoral victory three years ago. In this time, 6899 residential units were approved per year on average in Israeli settlements – twice as many as in the previous three years. In the first ten months of this year the construction of 8337 apartments in settlements was approved.

Peace Now's statement on the US Administration's latest assault on the two-state solution: https://t.co/asLZ9bkYdV

— Peace Now (@peacenow Israel) November 18, 2019

it was Unclear whether a rocket attack from Syria on Tuesday morning in connection with the US u-turn is. According to the Israeli army, four rockets were fired from Syria toward the Israeli-annexed Golan heights were intercepted by the air defense system. In places on the Golan heights there was previously just before five o'clock a rocket fire alarm, explosions were heard.

Created: 19.11.2019, 08:42 PM