{"id":148131,"date":"2019-11-25T12:00:28","date_gmt":"2019-11-25T12:00:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/?p=148131"},"modified":"2019-12-02T11:18:05","modified_gmt":"2019-12-02T11:18:05","slug":"un-regrets-new-us-position-on-legality-of-israeli-settlements","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/2019\/11\/un-regrets-new-us-position-on-legality-of-israeli-settlements\/","title":{"rendered":"UN \u2018Regrets\u2019 New US Position on Legality of Israeli Settlements"},"content":{"rendered":"

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19 Nov 2019 – The longstanding position of the UN regarding Israeli settlements in Occupied Palestinian Territory \u2013 that they are in breach of international law \u2013 is unchanged, Spokesperson St\u00e9phane Dujarric said during a press briefing today in New York, reacting to the policy reversal announced by the United States.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Mr. Dujarric added that the UN \u201cvery much regrets\u201d the announcement of the new US position on Monday and remains \u201ccommitted to a two-State solution based on the relevant UN resolutions\u201d.<\/p>\n

Earlier on Tuesday, at a press briefing in Geneva, Spokesperson for the Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights (OHCHR<\/a>), Rupert Colville, told reporters that a change in the policy position of one Member State does not modify existing international law, nor its interpretation by the International Court of Justice (ICJ<\/a>) and the UN Security Council.<\/p>\n

Announcing the policy change, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, said that \u201ccalling the establishment of civilian settlements inconsistent with international law hasn\u2019t worked. It hasn\u2019t advanced the cause of peace\u201d.<\/p>\n

Mr. Pompeo\u2019s comments \u2013which were reportedly condemned by Palestinian politicians, and the Jordanian Government, and welcomed by Israel\u2019s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu \u2013 have been interpreted in press reports as a rejection of UN Security Council resolution 2334<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Palestinian houses and Israeli settlements in H2 area in Hebron, West Bank. UN News\/Reem Abaza<\/p><\/div>\n

This resolution reaffirmed, in 2016, that Israel\u2019s establishment of settlements on Palestinian land occupied since 1967, have \u201cno legal validity\u201d, and constitute a \u201cflagrant violation under international law and a major obstacle to the vision of two States living side-by-side in peace and security, within internationally recognized borders\u201d. The resolution was adopted with 14 votes in favour, with the US abstaining.<\/p>\n

On the same day that Mr. Pompeo delivered his remarks, the US Embassy in Jerusalem released a security alert, advising US citizens travelling to, or through, Jerusalem, to maintain a high level of vigilance and increase their security awareness.<\/p>\n

Tensions in the region were already high before Mr. Pompeo\u2019s announcement: on October 28, the UN\u2019s Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process told the Security Council<\/a> that \u201cnew dangerous flashpoints\u201d were emerging in the region, and described the growing number of Israeli settlements as a substantial obstacle to the peace process.<\/p>\n

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We continue to follow the longstanding position of the @UN<\/a> that the #IsraeliSettlements<\/a> are in breach of international law.<\/p>\n

— @UNHumanRights<\/a> spox @RColville<\/a> at Geneva press briefing. pic.twitter.com\/Nn02p7zwmw<\/a><\/p>\n

— United Nations Geneva (@UNGeneva) November 19, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n