Netanyahu thanks U.S. for policy shift on Judea and Samaria

The Israeli prime minister thanked the U.S. for its “steadfast position supporting truth and justice,” and “called upon all responsible countries who hope to advance peace to adopt a similar position.”

By World Israel News Staff

On Monday night, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement thanking the U.S. for announcing a significant policy shift on the status of Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria.

“Today, the United States adopted an important policy that rights a historical wrong when the Trump administration clearly rejected the false claim that Israeli settlements in Judea and Samaria are inherently ‘illegal’ under international law,” announced Netanyahu.

The prime minister continued, “This policy reflects an historical truth – that the Jewish people are not foreign colonialists in Judea and Samaria. In fact, we are called Jews because we are the people of Judea.”

Netanyahu also concurred with the Trump administration’s  conclusion that “those who have categorically denied any legal basis for the settlements not only deny truth, history and the reality on the ground, they also set back the cause of peace, which can only be achieved through direct negotiations between the parties.”

According to Netanyahu, “Israel’s legal system, which has proven itself fully capable of addressing legal questions related to the settlements, is the appropriate place for these matters to be adjudicated–not biased international forums that pay no attention to history or facts.”

Netanyahu reiterated Israel’s willingness to “conduct peace negotiations with the Palestinians regarding all final status issues in an effort to achieve a durable peace but will continue to reject all arguments regarding the illegality of the settlements.”

He concluded, “Israel is deeply grateful to President Trump, Secretary Pompeo and the entire US administration for their steadfast position supporting truth and justice, and calls upon all responsible countries who hope to advance peace to adopt a similar position.”