In an apparent shift from the prior administration, it appears the United States is taking a firmer stand on the issue of Israel's construction of new housing in the West Ban.
Israel is under increased pressure from the United States over settlement construction. In the past month, since Barack Obama was sworn in as U.S. president, Israel has received four official complaints from members of the new administration regarding various issues linked to West Bank settlements.
Haaretz
Last, week, in probably the highest level official comment on the matter, SOS Clinton remarked that the demolition of 70 odd Palestinian homes in east jerusalem was "unhelpful" , in response the mayor of Jerusalem rejected the comments as "a lot of air "
Should the US follow continue to apply pressure to Israel on settlement expansion? Or wait and see how the New Israeli government addresses the matter?
The four separate complaints relate to the demolition of Palestinian-owned homes in East Jerusalem, reports of Israeli plans to construct additional housing in the E1 area, between Maaleh Adumim and Jerusalem, the relocation of the illegal outpost at Migron to a new, as-yet unbuilt neighborhood of the Adam settlement and to plans to build thousands of new residential units in the settlement of Efrat.
Benjamin Netanyahu, the likely leader of the new Government, has campaigned on a platform of allowing expansion of existing settlements, but so far has resisted calls from hard right elements to legalize all the settlements, and build new ones.
The Palestinians, and the world community, view the settlements as a major obstacle to any peace process, and as an indication of Israels unwillingness to allow he creation of a Sovereign Palestinian state in the West Bank.
"The three areas - Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem are separated," says Allegra Pacheco of the United Nations' Humanitarian Office in the Palestinian Territories.
"Israel controls East Jerusalem and large parts of the West Bank. There's a wall dividing East Jerusalem from the West Bank, preventing most Palestinians from accessing the best schools, the best hospitals or going to pray in mosques or churches there.
"More and more East Jerusalem land is being set aside for Jewish settlers. Then, within the West Bank there are more than 600 physical obstacles placed by Israel blocking Palestinian movement.
"Israeli settlers occupy 60% of the land there and they are scattered all over the places. This further fragments the territory and very much undermines the economy and prospects for improvement in the Palestinian situation."
BBC
In general, International Law permits temporary occupation of territories acquired in conquest, but only for military necessity. International Law does prohibit the relocation of the conqueror's citizens and the taking of land for any purpose other than the benefit of the persons in the occupied lands, and military necessity.
Should the US continue to pressure to freeze the expansion of settlements in the West Bank?