U.S. Embassy's Expansion of Consular Services in West Bank Sparks Controversy

On February 25, local time, the Palestinian Authority's 'Committee Against the Wall and Settlements' issued a statement condemning the U.S. Embassy in Israel's decision to extend consular services to the Jewish settlement of Efrat in the southern West Bank. According to Jin10, this move is seen as a violation of international law principles and is perceived as tacit support for Israel's settlement policies. The expansion of consular services has raised concerns among Palestinian officials, who argue that it undermines efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and challenges the international consensus on the status of the settlements.