RAMALLAH, Tuesday, 19 November 2019 (WAFA) – Prime Minister . Mohammad Shtayyeh denounced in a statement US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s declaration that the US no longer considers the Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories as violating international law.

“We denounce and reject the statement of US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. It‘s a mockery of international law and resolutions that criminalize Israeli settlements and prohibit the occupying power from transferring its civilian population into occupied territory,” said Shtayyeh.

“The bias of the Trump administration towards the most extreme in Israel blinds it from seeing the basic principles of international law and consensus. It‘s an attempt to support (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu in the last moments of the competition for the post of Prime Minister,” he added.

“Israeli settlements deny the freedom and independence of the State of Palestine. We demand the international community to address this dangerous statement, which is a blow to more than 25 years of international efforts towards the achievement of peace,” said the prime minister, adding, “It‘s crucial to translate political statements into action on the ground.”

M.K.