US Takes Harder Line On Israeli Settlements, Sign Of Deepening Rift

In the past hour, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, speaking in Argentina, and White House National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications, John Kirby, briefing in Washington, have both told reporters that new Israeli settlements in the West Bank are "not consistent with international law."

• Kirby said: "...we see those reports and frankly, are disappointed in the announcement... new settlements are counterproductive to the cause of peace. Frankly, they're also inconsistent with international law. And this administration maintains this firm opposition, our firm opposition to settlement expansion."
• Barak Ravid at Axios notes: "This is a big deal: in response to the decision to expand construction in the settlements last night, Blinken effectively cancels the "Pompeo Doctrine" which stated that the settlements are not necessarily illegal."
• The Times of Israel noted yesterday, after the decision to authorise new settlements: "The move is almost certain to cause a rift with the Biden administration, which is already under massive domestic and international pressure over its support for Israel in the latter’s war against Hamas and has viewed Israeli settlement construction as a major impediment to an eventual two-state solution."
• Comes as another round of ceasefire talks get underway in Paris, France which Reuters describes as, "the most serious push for weeks to halt the fighting in the battered Palestinian enclave and see Israeli and foreign hostages released."