The Yesha Council has released a statement in response to America’s announce policy shift, in which US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced on Monday that the United States is reversing the Obama administration’s approach to settlements.

Pompeo’s announcement repudiates a 1978 State Department legal opinion that held that civilian settlements in the occupied territories are “inconsistent with international law.”

Yesha Council Chief Foreign Envoy Oded Ravivi: “The Time has come to use both Political and Legal Platforms to Apply Israeli Law in Yehuda and Shomron”.

Following the announcement by the US Secretary of State that the US does not view the settlements as operating in contravention of international law, as Ravivi thanked the US for the move and urged the Israeli government to apply Israeli law immediately throughout Yehuda and Shomron. “I congratulate President Trump and his government on the truly courageous recognition, settlements are not a crime and not a barrier to peace.”

“US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman clarified the reality of the situation and the legal status of Yehuda and Shomron. Now is the time to take action utilizing our political and legal platforms to apply Israeli law.”

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)