Mike Pompeo makes an unusual visit to the Israeli settlements

Secretary of state Mike Pompeo has made the first-ever visit by a top United States official to the Israeli colonies in the West Bank. The establishment of these colonies was opposed by the United States for the longest time till last year when the world power changed its stance to accept the authenticity of these settlements.

This declaration by the US official angered the Palestinians who hope for the land to be available for what they claim ‘a future Palestine land.’ This time further strengthened the US stance in favor of these settlements by the Jewish population.

The tour was scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday when Pompeo visited Psagot, a move that was avoided by all the US officials before him in order to avoid conflict. Experts say that with this, Pompeo and in fact, the United States has successfully shown its pro-Israel overview of the whole matter.

After his tour to these settlements, he also visited Golan Heights, an area supposedly seized by Israelis from Syria in the 1967 Middle East war. It was only last year when the incumbent President Donald Trump officially recognized the area as Israel’s land.

Many suspects that this gesture by Pompeo may serve as a farewell by Trump so that he could leave the White House while maintaining his relations with Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu has been a close ally of the Trump administration from the moment the American leader took office in 2015.

Mike Pompeo addressed the media sharing the Trump administration’s view on these settlements saying that the world has a wrong view about it. He said, “"It took a view that didn't recognize the history of this special place and instead now today the United States department of state stands strongly to the recognition that settlements can be done in a way that's lawful and appropriate and proper.”

During his visit, Pompeo also made a controversial statement saying that the products of the land will be considered to be the property of Israel and will be labeled as ‘made in Israel’. Having said that, what needs to be noted that the majority of the world and international law considers these settlements as illegal.

Despite strong criticism coming his way, the US diplomat said that the US ‘will regard the global, anti-Israel BDS campaign as antisemitic.’ The US receives support from Germany as Berlin also had earlier condemned BDS as antisemitic.

What is suspicious is that all of these talks and declarations are being made in a hurry, just a month away from President Trump leaving office. Palestinians fear that it might be the strategy of the US officials in favor of the Israeli government.