The US Embassy Decides to Provide Consular Services in an Israeli Settlement in the West Bank

SadaNews Translation - Channel 12 Hebrew reported on Tuesday evening that, for the first time, the US Embassy in Israel will provide consular services in the territory of settlements in the West Bank.

The US Embassy announced that it will offer routine passport services on Friday at the "Efrat" settlement in the Gush Etzion bloc south of Bethlehem.

It considered this step a clear and fundamental change in the US stance regarding Israel's control over the West Bank, noting that there are a large number of settler immigrants from America living in the "Efrat" settlement.

The channel quoted a statement from the US Embassy, indicating that its services will later expand to include the cities of Ramallah, Beit Shemesh, Beitar Illit, Haifa, and Netanya.

This step comes days after controversial statements by US Ambassador Mike Huckabee, in which he talked about Israel's right to control the Middle East, including the territories of the West Bank, using biblical phrases.