As someone who’s spent years studying and teaching law, I’ve got to tell you – the whole West Bank settlements issue isn’t as straightforward as many people think. Let me break it down for you in a way that cuts through the noise and gets to the heart of the matter.

The Real Deal on West Bank Settlements

First off, let’s get one thing straight: Israeli settlements in the West Bank aren’t the main reason we don’t have peace between Israel and Palestinians. I know that might sound crazy given all the fuss about it, but hear me out. Back before 1967, when Jordan controlled the West Bank and parts of Jerusalem, there wasn’t a single Israeli settlement in sight. Guess what? Palestinian terror attacks against Israel were still happening left and right. So, settlements or no settlements, the attacks kept coming.

The Gaza Experiment: A Wake-Up Call

Here’s a wild thought experiment: What if Israel packed up and left every single settlement in the West Bank tomorrow? Based on what we’ve seen before, it probably wouldn’t change much. In fact, it could make things worse. Remember 2005? Israel pulled out of Gaza completely. They left behind every house, farm, and building they’d built. The result? Thousands of rockets rain down on Israel, year after year. Now Israel’s got to deal with sophisticated missile defense systems just to keep people safe. Can you blame them for not wanting to risk the same thing happening in the West Bank?

The Legal Lowdown on West Bank Occupation

Now, I’ve heard people say Israel has no right to be in the West Bank at all. As a Harvard law professor, I’ve got to set the record straight: that’s not correct under international law. Here’s the deal: Military occupations are totally legit under international law when they follow an aggressive attack by a neighboring state. That’s exactly what happened in 1967 when Jordan attacked Israel. Israel has every right to keep military control until there’s real peace and the terrorism stops.

Settlements: A Complicated Issue

Don’t get me wrong – I’m not saying the settlements are a great idea. I’ve actually been against building them in the West Bank for a long time. They’ve caused resentment and given Israel’s enemies ammunition to attack the legitimacy of the occupation. But here’s the kicker: while settlements might make peace harder to achieve, they’re not the main roadblock. The real issue? Palestinian leaders (and according to polls, a lot of Palestinians) aren’t willing to recognize Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state.

The Path to Peace

So what’s it going to take to finally get peace? It’s pretty simple, really:

1. Palestinian leadership and people need to acknowledge Israel’s right to exist.
2. They need to agree that Israel should be free from military attacks, terrorism, and rocket attacks.
3. The diplomatic warfare against Israel needs to stop.

If these conditions are met – which are the foundation of any two-state solution – then we can start talking about ending the occupation, resolving the settlement issue, and finally achieving peace. Look, I’m not saying it’s easy. But if we’re going to make any progress, we’ve got to be honest about what’s holding things back. It’s not just about the settlements – it’s about recognizing each other’s right to exist and live in peace.