BREAKING: U.S. will no longer consider Jewish presence in disputed territories illegal

"Last week, the European Court of Justice shamefully mandated a discriminatory labeling regime exclusively for Jewish goods from disputed Israeli territories. By weaponizing consumer protection laws in pursuit of an anti-Israel political agenda, the EU made its position clear. It required American leadership to stand up for what's right. Today, the United States recognized Jews' right to live in our historic homeland. The contrast could not be more clear and the timing cannot be coincidental. We're thrilled to see the United States recognize reality and clearly articulate its commitment to justice and equality under the law."

– Brooke Goldstein, Executive Director, The Lawfare Project

AP Exclusive: US softens position on Israeli settlements

By Matthew Lee
November 18, 2019

WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is expected to announce on Monday that the U.S. is softening its position on Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, the latest in a series of Trump administration moves that weaken Palestinian claims to statehood.

Pompeo plans to repudiate a 1978 State Department legal opinion that held that civilian settlements in the occupied territories are “inconsistent with international law.” The move will likely anger Palestinians and put the U.S. at odds with other nations working to end the conflict.

The Trump administration views the opinion, the basis for long-standing U.S. opposition to expanding the settlements, as a distraction and believes any legal questions about the issue should be addressed by Israeli courts, according to a draft of Pompeo’s remarks on the policy obtained by The Associated Press.

The Lawfare Project is a global network of legal professionals that contribute their skills, time, and expertise to defending the civil and human rights of the Jewish people and pro-Israel community, and fighting discrimination wherever they see it.