US ‘cynical’ in dealing with Israeli settlements: Analyst

Washington’s “cynical” statement about not protecting Israeli settlements against boycott is “not a big deal” and it is merely the reiteration of its decades-long policy on the issue, says a political commentator.

“It’s kind of a cynical statement in a way,” said Richard Forer, author of "Breakthrough; Transforming Fear into Compassion."

“They haven’t done anything to stop the settlements from expanding and new settlements from being built,” he said.

“So that’s why they are saying that they are not going to protect those settlements from criticism,” he added.

Forer made the remarks in a phone interview with Press TV when asked to comment on a recent statement by State Department spokesman John Kirby about the settlements.

Kirby said on Tuesday that the Obama administration “strongly opposed boycotts, divestment campaigns, and sanctions” targeting Israel and “will continue to do so.” He also said the administration "does not pursue policies or activities that would legitimize” Israeli settlements in the occupied lands.

Israel occupied the West Bank during the Six-Day War of 1967. It continues to demolish Palestinian houses, but keeps on building illegal settlement units on the occupied Palestinian territories.

“It’s not really a big deal. It’s just the reiteration of American policy with the hope that it will pacify some people who are upset about the anti-boycott amendment,” Forer noted.

Forer attributed the issue to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“He (Netanyahu) appeals with his far extremist right-wing philosophy, not just on the Palestinians and on non-Jews, but also just in general and he really appeals to Republicans and to the right-wing in the United States, and also the Republican-controlled Congress,” the analyst said.

He added that because Netanyahu has been so “disrespectful and abusive towards Obama, the United States also wants to make sure that the other side that recognizes the inhumanity of Netanyahu, doesn’t think that the United States has given up.”

SB/AGB