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February 13, 2018

Israel: Likud Party Says U.S. Discussed Annexation of Settlements
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The White House is denying reports that the Trump administration has
been openly discussing an Israeli plan to formally annex Palestinian
lands in the occupied West Bank. A spokesperson for the right-wing Likud
party quoted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as saying in a
closed-door session, "On the subject of applying sovereignty, I can say
that I have been talking to the Americans about it for some time."
Israel's West Bank settlements are illegal under international law, and
any move to annex Palestinian territory would be a further violation of
the Geneva Conventions. White House spokesperson Josh Raffel on Monday
called any reports that the U.S. discussed annexation with Israel
"false"-opening a rare public rift between President Trump and Prime
Minister Netanyahu.


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