United States: Mike Pompeo expected in an Israeli settlement in the West Bank
Mike Pompeo, US Foreign Minister, visiting Jerusalem on August 24, 2020. Debbie Hill / Reuters
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The head of US diplomacy visits Jerusalem on November 18.
He is planning two controversial visits: one to an Israeli settlement in the West Bank and another to the Golan Heights, both to areas occupied by Israel under international law.
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From our correspondent in Jerusalem
,
Guilhem Delteil
Never had a US Secretary of State visited an Israeli settlement in the West Bank or the Golan Heights.
But under President Donald Trump, the United States has ruled that Israeli colonization in the Palestinian territories is not contrary to international law and recognized Israeli sovereignty over the plateau claimed by Syria.
And Mike Pompeo should use his possible last trip to the region to highlight this break in American diplomatic tradition.
According to the
Axios
news site
, he is due to visit an Israeli vineyard a few kilometers from Ramallah and in the Golan Heights next week.
While a new administration should take office in Washington on January 20, the outgoing Secretary of State is keen, with this visit, to accentuate the inflection he wanted to give to American diplomacy and to mark his support for Israel.
This visit, which has not yet been commented on by Israeli leaders, was quickly condemned by Palestinian officials.
On Twitter, Prime Minister Mohamed Shtayyeh writes that Psagot, the affected settlement, was built on land owned by Palestinians living in the nearby town of al-Bireh.
And he denounces a "
dangerous precedent
" and a "
snub to international law
".
► Emmanuel Macron will receive Mike Pompeo on Monday morning, who will tour Europe before the one planned in the Middle East.
A meeting carried out at the request of the American and "
in full transparency with the team of President-elect Joe Biden,
" said the Elysee.
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United States
Donald trump
Israel
Diplomacy
Palestinian territories