Update: Settlements Illegal?

Update: today's Washington Post features an article discussing the ambiguity over America's official policy toward Israeli settlements in the West Bank and Gaza. Although a 1979 State Department legal opinion states that the settlements are "inconsistent" with international law, citing Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, US presidents have not referred to settlements as "illegal'" preferring instead terms such as "illegitimate" or "unhelpful." The last administration went even further, coming close to officially recognizing some settlements close to the green line as demographic "realities on the ground" that would be annexed to Israel as part of a final peace agreement.


I find it interesting that US officials will not comment on this 1979 legal opinion to say whether or not it is still official US policy. Today, Palestinians are in a weak position, politically, diplomatically, and militarily. Their main strength is international law - it is strongly on their side. Is the United States going to stand on the side of international law? Or, will it sacrifice international law for the interests of its ally, Israel?