The US will offer embassy services in illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank amid harsh criticism

For Palestinian officials and legal experts, this is a “clear violation of international law.”

This decision comes just days after Israel designated areas of the West Bank as “state property” for the first time since 1967, implying the de facto annexation of much of this territory.

“As part of our Freedom 250 initiative and US embassies’ efforts to reach all Americans, consular officials will offer routine passport services in Euphrates -Jewish settlement in the occupied West Bank- on Friday, February 27,” the US embassy reported online.

The United States plans to do the same in the coming weeks in Baitar Illit, un asentamiento ultraortodoxo, in the Palestinian city of Ramallah, as well as to the Israeli cities of Beit Shemesh, Haifa, Jerusalem and Netanya.

Legitimation of settlements

Palestinians and Israelis, both right and left, consider this measure to be a step towards legitimizing Israeli settlements, which most of the world considers illegal.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry welcomed the decision.

“We welcome the historic decision by the US Embassy in Jerusalem to extend consular services to US citizens. in Judea and Samaria“, they point out in a statement, using the term that Israel uses to refer to the West Bank.

For its part, Hamas considers this measure a ““dangerous precedent” and a “de facto recognition of the legitimacy of the settlements and of the occupation’s control over the West Bank.”

Although Donald Trump, a staunch supporter of Israel, has publicly said that he opposes Israeli annexation of the West Bankits Administration has not taken any measures to stop the creation of these settlements, which have increased since he has been president of the United States.

Illegal