The U.S. has long opposed settlements, recognizing them as a political and security liability for Israel and an impediment to achieving a negotiated solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Unfortunately, the U.S. has failed to translate this longstanding official opposition to settlements into a coherent policy that has stopped settlement expansion or the proliferation of “outposts.”

For the sake of Israeli-Palestinian peace, the U.S. must convince Israel’s leaders that U.S. opposition to settlements can no longer be dismissed. Continued settlement expansion – including in settlement “blocs” that are likely to remain under Israeli control under a future peace agreement – undermines Palestinian moderates, feeds extremism, exacerbates tensions on the ground, and diminishes the chances of achieving a negotiated agreement that could end the conflict and legitimize Israeli claims to settlement “blocs.”

Likewise, Israel’s failure to rein in settler renegades who persist in establishing and expanding unauthorized settlement “outposts,” and who are increasingly using violence and intimidation against not only Palestinians but also against the Israel Defense Forces and the Israeli police, threatens the viability of peace efforts.

For the sake of Israel’s own vital interests, the U.S. must convince Israel that expanding settlements and coddling settler extremists is a self-defeating and dangerous path that threatens Israel’s social contract, security, economic prosperity, and viability as a Jewish, democratic state. Absent a serious U.S. commitment on the issue, settlements and outposts have continued to grow, despite Israel’s obligations under the Roadmap, Israel’s repeated commitments to the U.S. and the international community, and – in some cases – Israeli law.

APN believes Israel must immediately stop ALL settlement construction and take action against so-called illegal outposts. APN strongly supports US efforts to press Israel to implement these policies.