Loan Guarantees, Israeli Settlements, and Middle East Peace

Professor Quigley questions whether the United States should guarantee loans for Israel in light of Israel's continued occupation of the West Bank. The author believes that Israel's policies of displacing the local Palestinian population and transferring its own population into the West Bank violate the Geneva Civilian's Convention and the accepted principles of belligerent occupation. Consequently, Mr. Quigley argues that any aid the United States gives Israel might facilitate these illegitimate activities and make the aid grant itself an illegal act in the eyes of the international community. Professor Quigley concludes that the United States support of Israel's settlement activities aggravates the inherent conflict between Israel and Palestine and thereby diminishes the prospects of peace in the Middle East.