Radio Recap: U.S. Takes Historic Stance Defending Israel

It’s a victory of our ally Israel, as the Trump Administration will officially recognize that Israel’s West Bank settlements are not violations of International Law and are not “occupied territory.”

On today’s Jay Sekulow Live we discussed the Trump Administration’s announcement that it will stop classifying Israeli settlements in the West Bank as a violation of international law, a step that is raising concerns from some individuals.

Individuals such as Congresswoman Ilhan Omar who said in a tweet that:

Israeli settlements violate intl law, decades of U.S. foreign policy, and the human rights of Palestinians. All who believe in the possibility of peace must speak up in this moment. “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”

She’s not happy and neither is her fellow “squad” member, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib who said: “Israel's settlements in the West Bank violate international law. No matter what this corrupt and immoral Trump regime (yeah he is a lawless king-like dictator) say, it doesn't change that fact.”

Bernie Sanders also tweeted:

Israeli settlements in occupied territory are illegal. This is clear from international law and multiple United Nations resolutions. Once again, Mr. Trump is isolating the United States and undermining diplomacy by pandering to his extremist base.

These responses are not shocking.

ACLJ Senior Counsel Skip Ash offered his perspective:

The settlements are within the territory we know as the West Bank which is the territory that the Israelis did not conquer during the 1948-49 war. It was occupied by the Jordanians. There are settlements there that are Jewish settlements. They are on key pieces of terrain. They are there for the security of Israel. They are becoming quite extensive but they are also lawful. I want people to understand that they are absolutely lawful. They have been encouraged since the mandate for Palestine in the early 1920’s.

Secretary Mike Pompeo said in the announcement:

The Trump administration is reversing the Obama administration’s approach towards Israeli settlements. US public statements on settlement activities in the West Bank have been inconsistent over decades.

That is because they were classified as illegal under President Obama.

This is a huge development. Some of these settlements are highly developed towns and even have universities in them. These are big areas and this was a big announcement.

There’s been a lot of litigation on this issue. There have been U.N. resolutions on this issue. It’s very consistent with U.S. support of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights.

This is a great demonstration of support for Israel.

You can listen to the entire episode here.