"US-Israel Relations: The Impact of Settlement Expansion on Policy Shifts"

Israel's plan to expand settlements in the occupied West Bank prompted the Biden administration to declare them "inconsistent" with international law, a policy that had been reversed by the previous Trump administration. The decision to shift the language was made in response to recent events, catching many by surprise. The move underscores growing frustration with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and his government's stance on settlements, which are considered a barrier to peace by the U.S. The policy change aligns the U.S. with most of the world's view that the settlements are illegal, and comes after a surge in settlement activities since the start of the Gaza war in October.