Obama Administration Rejects New Settlement Recognition

In a press conference this week, the Obama administration rejected Israel’s government request to recognize the construction of new [illegal] settlements in the occupied West Bank. During Kerry’s visit to Jerusalem, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly demanded US recognition of major Israeli illegal settlement blocs in the occupied West Bank in exchange for steps to ease tensions with the Palestinians. The US State Department quickly rejected any suggestion that Washington would change its longstanding opposition to settlements or recognize them as legitimate.