A composite of this determination:
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced on Monday that the Trump administration has determined that Israeli communities in Judea/Samaria (aka “the West Bank”) are legal under the standards of international law. Pompeo said that the administration was simply “recognizing the reality on the ground,” just at it had with recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s legitimate capital and the Golan Heights as sovereign Israeli land. Christian Zionists have much to be thankful for this week! Do not underestimate the importance of this groundbreaking declaration. For forty years the Unites States official policy has been to protest the expansion of Israeli communities in Judea/Samaria and declare those settlements as a roadblock to a future peace deal. In fact, President Obama’s official position was that the settlements were “illegitimate.” According to the United Nations, Israeli expansion past the “green line” was in “flagrant violation of international law.” This new announcement is an official departure from that position! We welcome this landmark decision and thank President Trump, Secretary Pompeo, and all involved behind the scenes for standing with the 700,000 Jews living in their historic homeland.
Ambassador (ret.) Yoram Ettinger said: “Based on the Palestinian intra-Arab and global rogue track record and the Palestinian Authority hate-education, Israel’s retreat from the mountain ridges of Judea and Samaria would yield another anti-US rogue regime. It would further destabilize the inherently violent, intolerant, unpredictable, unstable and despotic Middle East, providing Russia and possibly Iran naval, air and land rights, and accelerating the flight of Christians from the Bethlehem area. Ignoring the volcanic Middle East reality, the unique benefits derived from Israel’s control of the Judea and Samaria mountain ridges, and the significant damage which would be caused by the proposed Palestinian state, would resemble a person cutting off his/her nose to spite his/her face. Israel’s control of the mountain ridges of Judea and Samaria highlights the synergy between the national security of the US and Israel, emphasizing Israel’s military and commercial contribution as the most effective US force-multiplier in the Middle East and beyond.”
Rabbi David:
Am Israel Chai
The people of Israel Live