U.S. officials announced that for the first time, American consular services will be available in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. This initiative, starting this week, will allow U.S. citizens residing in settlements such as Efrat, located south of Bethlehem, to access passport services directly within the settlements. The U.S. consulate in Jerusalem has stated that services will also expand to locations including Ramallah and the settlement of Beitar Illit near Bethlehem.

The announcement highlights a notable change in the U.S. approach towards its citizens living in the West Bank, as the U.S. usually provides consular services from its embassy in Jerusalem and its branch office in Tel Aviv. With estimates of tens of thousands of American citizens living in the West Bank, the provision of these services is set to address the needs of this community directly in their residential areas.

This move also comes amid increasing calls from the Israeli right for the annexation of the West Bank, coupled with Israeli government measures that tighten control in the region. The expansion of consular services could be seen as an official endorsement of the American presence in Israeli settlements, raising questions about the implications for U.S. foreign policy in the region and the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.