THE GIST of Editorial for UPSC Exams : 26 December 2019 (U.S. support to Israeli occupation (Indian Express))

U.S. support to Israeli occupation (Indian Express)

Mains Paper 2 : International Relations
Prelims level : US foreign policy
Mains level : Implications on U.S. support to Israeli occupation

Context

• The U.S. administration recently declared that the Israeli settlements on the West Bank are not illegal.

What does this indicate?

• The decision is in line with President Donald Trump’s Israel policy, which has unconditionally favoured the Jewish nation.
• In December 2017, Mr. Trump announced that the U.S. would recognise Jerusalem, a disputed city, as Israel’s capital.
• This ignored the international consensus that the status of Jerusalem should be settled as part of a peace agreement.
• In March 2019, the US administration recognised the Golan Heights.
• Golan Heights was seized from Syria in the 1967 war by Israel which has occupied it ever since, as part of Israel.

What are the implications of the decision?

• The UN General Assembly, the Security Council and the International Court of Justice have all stated that the Israeli settlements on the West Bank are illegal.
• The UN Security Council has asked Israel to stall the settlement activities, but Israel has hardly paid any attention to international opinion.
• Israel’s defiance of international opinion on West Bank settlements is now finding U.S. support.
• The Trump administration’s declaration challenges international laws and consensus on the issue.

Way forward

• With its recognition of the Jewish settlements, US has strengthened Israel’s religious right, which wants the settlements to be annexed.
• It also complicates the already-stalled peace process between the Israelis and the Palestinians.
• If Israel goes ahead with annexation of the settlements, that will nearly put an end to the process towards the two-state solution.

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Prelims Questions:

Q.1) With reference to the Indian Economy, consider the following statements:
1. Stagflation is a condition of slow economic growth and relatively high unemployment, accompanied by rising prices, or inflation.
2. Reflation is a general decline in prices for goods and services, typically associated with a contraction in the supply of money and credit in the economy.

Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) None of the above

Ans: A
Mains Questions:
Q.1) What are the implications on U.S. support to Israeli occupation?