For decades, successive American administrations have insisted that Israeli annexation of the occupied West Bank would undermine international law and extinguish the possibility of a negotiated peace.

Even Donald Trump publicly stated that Israel would not annex the West Bank following the Abraham Accords. 

The message from Washington was clear: while the United States might tolerate facts created on the ground, formal annexation remained a red line.

This week, however, a contentious bureaucratic decision by the US Embassy in Jerusalem may have revealed how annexation no longer needs to be declared to be enabled.

For the first time in history, American consular officials are set to provide passport and citizenship services inside illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank — beginning in Efrat and followed by Beitar Illit. 

These are not recognised Israeli municipalities within Israeli territory – they are settlements established inside occupied Palestinian land in violation of international law, and considered illegal by the overwhelming majority of the international community.

Until now, American citizens living in these illegal settlements were required to travel to recognised diplomatic premises in West Jerusalem or Tel Aviv to receive consular services. 

That distinction mattered. It........

© TRT World