by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) – The Biden administration has officially labeled settlements as illegal and revoked the “Pompeo Doctrine,” highlighting its opposition to Israel’s plans to construct 3,000 new homes in Judea and Samaria. This move drew sharp criticism from Mike Pompeo, the Secretary of State under the Trump administration, who condemned the declaration that these new settlements homes are “inconsistent with international law’.”
“We’re disappointed in the announcement,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Friday during a joint press conference in Buenos Aires referencing Israel’s announcement to build 3,000 new homes in Judea and Samaria.
“It’s been longstanding US policy under Republican and Democratic administrations alike that new settlements are counterproductive to reaching an enduring peace,” Blinken said.
Mike Pompeo, the architect of the 2019 “Pompeo Doctrine,” which stated that Judea and Samaria’s settlements do not breach international law, sharply disagreed with the Biden Administration and stated his disapproval of X (formerly Twitter) regarding reversing his policy.
Pompeo wrote, “Judea and Samaria are rightful parts of the Jewish homeland, and Israelis have a right to live there.”
“President Biden’s decision to overturn our policy and call Israeli ‘settlements’ illegal will not further the cause of peace,” Pompeo added.
“It rewards Hamas for its brutal attacks on October 7th and punishes Israel instead. These Israeli communities are not standing in the way of peace; militant Palestinian terrorism is,” Pompeo concluded.
Judea and Samaria are rightful parts of the Jewish homeland, and Israelis have a right to live there.
President Biden's decision to overturn our policy and call Israeli 'settlements' illegal will not further the cause of peace. It rewards Hamas for its brutal attacks on October…
— Mike Pompeo (@mikepompeo) February 23, 2024
Israel’s announcement to push forward with settlement construction came shortly after US Middle East Envoy Brett McGurk held discussions with Netanyahu, Gallant, and the War Cabinet on Thursday, after the news of a terrorist attack near Ma’aleh Adumim that resulted in one death and over eight injuries.
“Let every terrorist plotting to harm us know that any raising of a hand against Israeli citizens will be met with a blow of death and destruction and the deepening of our eternal grip on the entire Land of Israel,” Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said.
Shlomo Ne’eman, leader of the Yesha Council and the Gush Etzion Regional Council, commended the approval of 3,000 new housing units and urged Netanyahu to authorize further construction.
He argued that expanding Judea and Samaria is a fitting rebuttal to those threatening Israel or questioning its territorial claims. Ne’eman expressed hope for the swift approval of additional housing units pending authorization, emphasizing the importance of proactive measures rather than waiting for another tragic incident.
“Our enemies must understand that terrorism does not intimidate us. Strengthening our presence across the Land of Israel is essential,” he stated.
Copyright 1999-2024 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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