Tel Aviv / PNN – Some settlements in the West Bank, all of which contravene international law, may be deemed legal by the Israelis.

The subject is settlement outposts that also contravene Israeli law, but the occupying administration is looking to retroactively legalize several as a meeting with the US administration on a settlement freeze nears.

US President Barack Obama has heavily backed off his initial position which followed international law in regard to settlements. With the blatant Israeli refusal to abide the law and Obama’s desire to not alienate the US ally, the Americans downgraded from “remove settlements” to “freeze construction for a year.” Neither of these has been accepted by the Israelis.

Meetings with the Israeli Foreign Ministry and the US envoy George Mitchell are underway. Israeli representative of the Attorney General said twice on Wednesday that construction in settlements in the West Bank may become legal retroactively, which is, apparently, a major change in Israeli politics.

The Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz reported on Thursday that the Attorney General represented this divergence to the normal response by the Israeli state that the buildings are illegal and should be demolished.

Construction on four settlements, Heuvel, Tzuf, Netiv Haffu and Amona is supposed to end as it is illegal even under Israeli law, but it seems that they will stay.

The Israeli group Peace Now issued a call, meanwhile, to demolish 12 buildings in the new settlement of Kiryat Natafim.

Earlier this week Palestinian Legislative Council member and Secretary General of the Palestinian National Initiative, Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi warned against efforts to split hairs on settlement policy. All of the settlements are illegal, all must be removed, states international law and the sentiment was reiterated by former US President Jimmy Carter when in town with the “Elders” last week.

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