Except for Palestine: The Limits of Progressive Politics

by Marc Lamont Hill

Clinton’s words on the campaign trail, however, left a lasting imprint on U.S. policy, establishing not only that Jerusalem was fair game for political theater, but also that Republicans like Reagan did not have a monopoly on one-sided pro-Israel policy. Clinton also shifted policy by separating Jerusalem from the rest of the West Bank. As historian Charles D. Smith explains, “Whereas former U.S. administrations had characterized ‘East Jerusalem’ as part of the occupied territories, meaning that it was considered West Bank land subject to negotiation, Clinton started calling it ‘disputed territory’ even before the 1993 (Oslo) accord, the status of which would be resolved in final talks. Administration spokespersons argued that extension of Israeli settlements around Jerusalem, which now included significant portions of the West Bank, did not violate American criteria for loans…. Jerusalem’s status had been deferred to permanent status talks.”