Israeli: Netanyahu heralds 'historic' US shift on settlements

SOT, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister (Hebrew): "This is a historic day and a big achievement to our policy. Following Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Israel, and his recognition in our sovereignty in the Golan Heights, now the American administration puts an end to the lie that the settlements are illegal. I thank president Trump, and I thank Secretary of State Pompeo.
SCRIPT
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed a "historic" shift in the US position on settlements in the West Bank, which it now no longer views as inconsistent with international law.
He thanked the Trump administration via a video message recorded in Jerusalem on Monday.
Earlier, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the status of the West Bank was for Israelis and Palestinians to negotiate.
Settlements were built by Jewish communities on land Israel occupied after the 1967 Six-Day War. The UN considers them "illegal", while Palestinians view them as an obstacle to a future state.
Monday's announcement reverses the Obama administration's decision to not veto a UN resolution in 2016 calling for an end to illegal Israeli settlements.