"Blinken Condemns Israeli Plans for West Bank Settlement Expansion"

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that Israel's expansion of settlements in the occupied West Bank is inconsistent with international law, signaling a return to longstanding US policy on the issue, which was reversed by the Trump administration. Blinken expressed disappointment in Israel's plans for new housing in the West Bank, emphasizing that settlement expansion weakens, rather than strengthens, Israel's security. The Trump administration had previously abandoned the long-held US position that the settlements were inconsistent with international law, drawing condemnation from Palestinians and the international community.