"On this Thanksgiving 2019, we, at EMET, would like to extend our profound gratitude to this wonderful country, which has given our people, and all religious minorities, fertile, rich soil in which to plant our roots. We are grateful to live in a nation with our brilliant Constitution, and First Amendment rights. And we are profoundly grateful, as well, to you, our many readers and supporters who enable us to keep on with our noble work of telling the truth about the many challenges within the Middle East, and about our one democratic ally, Israel, throughout the corridors of power, here in Washington."
It was not radical for Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to revive the Reagan policy.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has just upended longstanding, widely held opinion about the legality of Israel’s West Bank settlements. Critics say he is off on the law, has radically broken with U.S. policy, and is undermining the pursuit of peace. Those critics are wrong on all scores.
Pompeo made four main points. First, the settlements are not “inherently illegal.” Second, the West Bank’s fate should be determined through negotiations. Third, international law “does not compel a particular outcome” in favor of Israel or the Palestinians. And fourth, the issue is political in nature, not legal, and attacking the settlements’ legality “hasn’t advanced the cause of peace.”
For 35 years U.S. administrations refrained from repeating President Carter’s criticism of Israeli settlements as illegal, Pompeo recounted, but then President Obama broke with this policy by taking the Carter position at the United Nations. President Reagan had rejected Carter’s view. “This administration,” Pompeo said, “agrees with President Reagan.”
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