ISSUE BRIEFING

 

Israeli Settlements and U.S. Policy

 

 

Despite his words about peace, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has consistently taken actions that violate Palestinian human rights, including building settlements on Palestinian land and demolishing Palestinian homes, which undermine the possibility of Palestinian-Israeli peace.

  • Since taking office for the second time, Mr. Netanyahu has authorized the construction of 73,300 settlement units and has issued demolition orders for 95 Palestinian homes in the occupied Palestinian territories.
  • During Mr. Netanyahu's first term as prime minister (1996-1999), Israel constructed over 10,000 settlement units, increasing the settler population in the occupied Palestinian territories by 25%.

 

Mr. Netanyahu's policies are consistent with the policies of previous Israeli governments.

  • During the tenure of former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Israel constructed 4,560 settlement units and oversaw the demolition of 5,428 Palestinian homes in the occupied Palestinian territories.
  • During the tenure of former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Israel constructed 7,467 settlement units and oversaw the demolition of 1,960 Palestinian homes in the occupied Palestinian territories.
  • During the tenure of former Prime Minister Ehud Barak, Israel constructed 14,202 new settlement units and oversaw the demolition of 3,219 Palestinian homes in the occupied Palestinian territories. 

 

The Obama Administration's support of an Israeli settlement freeze echoes three decades of U.S. policy against Israeli settlements and must be linked to credible monitoring, accounting and enforcement mechanisms if his administration is to succeed where previous ones have failed.

  • From the Carter Administration, which called settlements "contrary to international law" to the George H. W. Bush and Clinton Administrations, which called them "obstacles to peace", to the George W. Bush Administration, which said that settlements "must stop", official U.S. policy has long been to oppose Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.
  • For the Obama Administration to achieve change and achieve the goals of U.S. policy toward Israel's settlements, the Obama Administration and Congress must establish (a) official monitoring mechanisms to track whether Israel settlements are being built and report that activity to American officials and the American people, (b) official accounting mechanisms to ensure that American financial and military aid to Israel do not go toward, or offset Israeli funds directed toward, settlement construction and (c) official accountability mechanisms to ensure that, if Israel chooses to construct, or allow the construction of, settlements in the occupied territories, then the United States will reduce its generous aid accordingly.