US policy on Israeli settlements, absolutely awful: Analyst

A general view taken on February 3, 2017 shows the Israeli settlement of Almon (Anatot), north of the Maale Adumim settlement, in the occupied West Bank. (Photo by AFP)

Israeli officials have interpreted the United States new policy regarding the settlements on occupied Palestinian land as a green light. This is while the White House spokesman Sean Spicer said in a statement that the United States does not believe the Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory are “an impediment to peace” but cautioned that a further expansion “may not be helpful” to ending the conflict.

An author and former US diplomat believes United States' stance on Israeli settlements is “absolutely awful”, adding that it demonstrates that Tel Aviv controls Washington’s foreign and domestic policies rather than the other way around.

“We have an American government that promised change and what we are getting is more of the same, more of the Bush administration, more of the Obama administration, more of what Hillary Clinton would have given us,” Michael Springmann told Press TV in an interview on Saturday.

He also opined that US President Donald Trump is “talking out of both sides of his mouth” and giving the Israelis the tacit go-ahead to continue with their “squatting, colonization, and occupation of what is left of Palestine”.

The analyst further criticized the United States for not taking any “substantive action” to stop the Israeli settlements.

“It does not say to the Israelis no more money, no more favorable tax treatment, no more favorable business of raising money in the United States … and instead we have [Israel’s Prime Minister] Benjamin Netanyahu coming to the United States on February 15 to secure his hold over the American government through Donald Trump,” he said.

Springmann went on to say that the United States is no longer an independent country, but rather the “westernmost province” of Israel. Therefore, he said, “we need to do something about this and we need to start with Trump.”

The analyst further denounced the two-state solution as “nonsense”, arguing that “all it does is give the Israelis an attempt to continue promising peace while actually making war on what is left for the Palestinian people”.

He also noted Trump is not going to make any changes despite promises he has made and “it is a great tragedy”.


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