Arabic version: الولايات المتحدة ستقدم خدمات قنصلية في مستوطنة مثيرة للجدل في الضفة الغربية

The United States has announced it will soon provide in-person passport services at the illegal Israeli settlement of Efrat, located in the occupied West Bank. This initiative is set to begin on February 27, according to a statement from the US Embassy in Jerusalem.

This marks the first occasion that the US has provided consular services to a settlement in the West Bank, as confirmed by a spokesperson for the embassy. In addition to Efrat, the US plans to extend similar services to the Palestinian city of Ramallah and the illegal settlement of Beitar Illit near Bethlehem, along with several cities within Israel, including Haifa.

Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank are deemed illegal under international law, and the area is home to approximately 3 million Palestinians who view the territory as essential for a future state. The expansion of Israeli settlements has been a contentious issue, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing government recently approving measures to expand control over the West Bank. This move has drawn condemnation from over 80 United Nations member countries.

The situation in the West Bank is further complicated by ongoing violence, as Israeli forces conduct raids, demolitions, and arrests. Reports indicate that in January alone, at least 694 Palestinians were driven from their homes due to violence and harassment from Israeli settlers, marking a significant increase since the recent conflict in Gaza began in October 2023.

According to Al Jazeera, the Efrat settlement is home to many American-Israeli nationals, highlighting the complex ties between the US and Israeli settlements in the region.