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US says Israeli settlements not necessarily illegal

A US shift on settlements comes after European court decision on labeling settlement products.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo delivers a statement on the Trump administration's position on Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank during a news briefing at the State Department in Washington, U.S., November 18, 2019. REUTERS/Yara Nardi - RC2WDD9QJ2RP

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced today that the US government will no longer hold the position that settlements built in the West Bank are necessarily illegal, saying the decision recognizes reality on the ground.

“The establishment of Israeli civilian settlements is not per se inconsistent with international law,” Pompeo told journalists at a news conference at the State Department.

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