US backs Israel's right to build settlements in occupied West Bank territories

Abandoning its four-decade stand, the United States has backed Israel's right to build settlements on the occupied West Bank in the Palestinian territories. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo yesterday announced that the US no longer believes that Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territories are illegal and inconsistent with international law.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that the United States



statement deeming Israeli settlement not to be illegal rights a historical wrong.

But the Palestinian Authority decried the US policy shift as completely against international law.

Meanwhile, the European Union has condemned Israel's policy of building settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory, saying settlement activity is illegal under international law.