The Sunday Telegraph published the following in a story about Donald Trump campaigners seeking votes from US-Israeli nationals living in communities in the disputed territories:
In fact, as we pointed out to Telegraph editors, the US government does not consider Jewish settlements to be illegal. It considers them to be objectionable, calling them “obstacles to peace” and prejudicial to the outcome of final status talks and questions their legitimacy. It has not, however, called them illegal.
In the interests of factual accuracy, The Telegraph has amended the sentence, which now states that Jewish settlements are “considered illegitimate by the US government.”
Granted, the difference is arguably very subtle yet it is important. Obviously media outlets should be factually accurate but on the issue of settlements, terming them “illegal” has serious implications relating to issues such as the recent US military aid package or how the US relates to its own citizens who live in settlements.
It also goes some way to demonstrate that it is incorrect to simply call all Israeli settlements illegal when there are other interpretations that are equally valid.
© Divuach Ne’eman R”A, 2025
