Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said on Friday that the American government now considers new Israeli settlements in Palestinian territories to be “inconsistent with international law,” reversing a policy set under the Trump administration and returning to a decades-long U.S. position.
Mr. Blinken spoke at a news conference in Buenos Aires, after Israel’s finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, made an announcement on Thursday indicating thousands of new residences would be added to settlements.
“It’s been longstanding U.S. policy under Republican and Democratic administrations alike that new settlements are counterproductive to reaching enduring peace,” he said.
And in our judgment, this only weakens — it doesn’t strengthen — Israel’s security.”Mr. Blinken was in Argentina for meetings with the recently elected president, Javier Milei, and the foreign minister, Diana Mondino.
State Department officials declined to say what actions, if any, the United States might take to hold Israeli settlers or the government legally accountable for the building of new settlements.
Persons:
Antony J, Blinken, Trump, Bezalel Smotrich, ”, “ It’s, “, Mr, Javier Milei, Diana Mondino, John F, Kirby
Organizations:
Republican, Democratic, State
Locations:
Buenos Aires, U.S, Argentina, Washington, United States