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Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller announced a trade agreement Wednesday between the state and a group of settlers on the West Bank of Israel. Neither the U.S. government nor the United Nations recognizes the settlements.
Texas Tribune reporter Jim Malewitz says Miller's move was .
鈥淪id Miller told me that he was basically trying to send a political message,鈥� Malewitz says. 鈥淗e鈥檚 been very bullish on this idea of one united Israel, which would include settlements on the West Bank. And he decided to go over and sign this deal 鈥� a cooperation agreement with the Shomron Regional Council.鈥�
Though the West Bank settlers鈥� group isn鈥檛 recognized by the U.S. government, Miller鈥檚 action, though unusual, may not raise specific legal issues for Texas.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really not clear what the international legal implications are,鈥� Malewitz says. 鈥淎ccording to the experts I鈥檝e talked to, this is one of those agreements that would normally seem routine. There鈥檚 not much to it...Texas isn鈥檛 agreeing to anything specific. So it鈥檚 not clear if any international law was breached. But it certainly is sending a message.鈥�
Malewitz says Texas could export products like beef to the West Bank region, but that Miller envisions an exchange of technology, too.
鈥淚srael and some of the surrounding regions are known for their irrigation technology,鈥� Malewitz says. 鈥淸Miller] had seen some drone technology for monitoring fields that wasn鈥檛 in use in Texas. So he鈥檚 very excited about the prospect of learning lots from that whole region.鈥�
Other Texas elected officials have remained silent about the trade deal, not responding to Malewitz' requests for comment.
鈥淚t appears that he is doing it entirely solo,鈥� he says.
Written by Shelly Brisbin.
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