Statements from U.S. Government Officials Concerning Israeli Settlements
1 Statements from U.S. Government Officials Concerning Israeli Settlements Introduction The policy of all Israeli governments since 1967 of settling Israeli citizens in the territories Israel occupied in the 1967 war is regarded by most governments as a violation of international law defined by the “Fourth Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War.” In 2004, the International Court of Justice confirmed this in an advisory opinion. The United States supported the applicability of the Geneva Convention and the unlawful character of settlements until February 1981 when President Ronald Reagan disavowed this policy by asserting that settlements are “not illegal.” President Reagan’s policy has been sustained, implicitly, by subsequent U.S. administrations, all of whom have declined to address the legal issue, although they have all opposed, with varying emphasis, settlements or settlement expansion. However, on April 14, 2004, President George W. Bush, in a further retreat from past policy, told Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon that, “In light of new realities on the ground, including already existing major Israeli populations centers, it is unrealistic to expect that the outcome of final status negotiations will be a full and complete return to the armistice lines of 1949…” The following is chronology of statements by U.S. officials, beginning with the Johnson administration. It was initially prepared by Matt Skarzynski, an intern with the Foundation for Middle East Peace, Churches for Middle East Peace, and Holly Byker, a former staff member of Churches for Middle East Peace. Additional updates researched by Alexandra Stevens, an intern with Churches for Middle East Peace.
[Show full text]