"US Shifts Stance on Israeli Settlements in West Bank"

The Biden administration declared West Bank settlements illegal, reversing the "Pompeo doctrine" and objecting to Israel's plan for 3,000 new homes in the area. This marks a shift from the Trump administration's policy and has sparked criticism from former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and US Senator Tom Cotton. The European Union also opposed the Israeli step, while Israeli officials defended the decision as a response to a recent terror attack. The move comes amid ongoing debates about the legality of Israel's "occupation" of the West Bank.