Last month, the United States made another momentous pronouncement in what has turned out to be a series of momentous pronouncements regarding Israel. First, there was the move of the United States embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem back in May 2018. By doing this, America recognized that the city which the Israelis say is home to their government actually is the home of the Israeli government. Then ten months later, in March 2019, the U.S. affirmed that the Golan Heights belonged to Israel—again attesting that what appears to be true is, in fact, true. Golan is within the borders of Israel, so it belongs to Israel.

In the same way, this new decision by the Trump administration has shaken the diplomatic world. On November 18, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo declared, “After carefully studying all sides of the legal debate, this administration agrees with President Reagan. . . . The establishment of Israeli civilian settlements in the West Bank is not per se inconsistent with international law.”[1] In other words, Israeli settlements are not de facto illegal as most of the rest of the world believes. The reference to Ronald Reagan goes back to when the fortieth president overturned the Carter administration’s position that West Bank settlements were inconsistent with international law. This held true until the presidency of Barack Obama, when the attitude of the U.S. government became strongly anti-settlement.[2]

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu quickly praised this new shift, saying, “the United States adopted an important policy that rights a historical wrong when the Trump administration clearly rejected the false claim that Israeli settlements in Judea and Samaria are inherently illegal under international law. This policy reflects an historical truth—that the Jewish people are not foreign colonialists in Judea and Samaria. In fact, we are called Jews because we are the people of Judea.”[3]

Not surprisingly, the Palestinian Authority (PA) was swift in their condemnation of Pompeo’s remarks. Presidential spokesman Nabil Abu Rudaineh called the U.S. decision illegal, saying, that the Trump administration is “not qualified or authorized to cancel the resolutions of international legitimacy, and does not have the right to give any legitimacy to Israeli settlements.”[4] Since the day of the announcement, tension in Gaza and the West Bank has continued to grow. Words of anger and frustration have been voiced throughout the PA and among the more radical factions. A “day of rage” was even called for in the West Bank with educational institutions and some labor unions finishing work early to allow for maximum participation.[5]

It’s unclear how the United States’ policy difference will directly affect how they, Israel, or the PA will address West Bank settlements, and Pompeo made it clear that his statement was not directed toward any existing settlements that are currently caught up in legal disputes.[6] However, that is not what is ultimately most important. The greatest takeaway is that once again America and the Trump administration have shown themselves to be the best friend and greatest ally that Israel has. Based on the promises given to Abraham in Genesis 12 to bless those who bless the Jews, this is sure to be a win-win for both nations.

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[1] Yaakov Katz, “West Bank Settlements Not Illegal, Pompeo Announces in Historic Shift.” Jerusalem Post, JPost.com, November 18, 2019, https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/West-Bank-settlements-not-illegal-US-decides-in-historic-US-policy-shift-608222.

[2] Ibid.

[3] Ibid.

[4] Khaled Abu Toameh, “Palestinians Condemn Pompeo’s ‘Dangerous’ Announcement on Settlements.” Jerusalem Post, JPost.com, November 19, 2019, https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Palestinians-condemn-Pompeos-dangerous-announcement-on-settlements-608252.

[5] Elior Levy, “Palestinians Call for ‘Day of Rage’ Following U.S. Decision to Back Settlements.” Ynetnews, Ynetnews.com, November 26, 2019, https://www.ynetnews.com/article/H1jsZzK3r.

[6] Yaakov Katz.