Blinken said that settlement expansion undermines Israel's security, as he put it (European)
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken commented on a new settlement plan in the West Bank by saying that these settlements are “inconsistent with international law,” which reports described as a retreat from the “Pompeo Doctrine,” which added American cover to the settlements.
The United States expressed "disappointment" after Israel announced that it intends to build 3,300 new settlement units in the West Bank and Jerusalem.
The White House said that the settlements are "inconsistent with international law," which Blinken also repeated during a press conference in Buenos Aires with his Argentine counterpart, Diana Mondino, on Friday.
“Our administration maintains staunch opposition to settlement expansion, and in our view this only undermines Israel’s security, not strengthens it,” Blinken said.
Mike Pompeo, Secretary of State under President Donald Trump, announced in November 2019 that Washington no longer viewed the settlements in the West Bank as “inconsistent with international law,” thus changing the original American position that lasted 4 decades.
A White House National Security Council spokesman said in a press conference that the Biden administration "simply confirms the basic conclusion" in this case.
He added, "This is a position that has remained consistent with many Republican and Democratic administrations. If there is an administration that is inconsistent with this, it is the previous administration."
The Israeli Broadcasting Authority said - Friday morning - that the relevant committee is expected to meet within two weeks to approve the establishment of 2,350 units in the Maale Adumim settlement (east of East Jerusalem), about 300 units in the Kedar settlement (southeast of East Jerusalem), and 700 units in the Efrat settlement. (South Jerusalem).
The authority stated that the decision comes "in response to the shooting that took place on Thursday near the Maale Adumim settlement, which resulted in the death of an Israeli soldier and the wounding of at least 8 others with varying injuries."
On the other hand, the US Secretary of State was asked during the press conference in Buenos Aires about the post-war plan for Gaza, which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented to the War Cabinet on Thursday evening. He said, “I have not seen the plan, so I refrain from answering.”
But he added that there are "basic principles that we established months ago and that we consider very important."
Blinken said that Gaza should not be a platform for terrorism, as he described it, and at the same time “there should be no new Israeli occupation of Gaza,” and the territory of the Strip should “not be reduced.”
The plan drawn up by Netanyahu stipulates maintaining “security control” in the Gaza Strip, as well as “the entire region of western Jordan by land, sea and air.”
The United States provides broad political support to Israel in its war on Gaza, as well as an air bridge to supply it with thousands of tons of weapons and ammunition.
Washington used its veto - Tuesday - to thwart an Algerian draft resolution in the Security Council calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.
Source: Al Jazeera + agencies