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GAZA, Nov. 19-- Palestinian observers believe that the U.S. announcement that the Israeli settlements in the West Bank do not violate the international law undermines the internationally-backed two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. The observers highlighted that Washington's stance threatens to bring the conflict back to zero point, help prolong the conflict in the Middle East and kill solutions consistent with the resolutions of international legitimacy. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced on Monday that the U.S. government will no longer consider Israel's West Bank settlements "inconsistent" with the international law, a move that may further dim the future of the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. Pompeo said in a press conference that the decision, which reversed the Obama administration's position on the issue, had been made based on the "reality on the ground." The U.S. top diplomat also noted that this announcement should not be viewed as the U.S. government "addressing or prejudging the ultimate status of the West Bank." In response, the Palestinian presidency condemned Pompeo's remarks, saying the U.S. decision contradicts the international law. Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesman of the Palestinian presidency, said in an official press statement that Pompeo's remarks violate "the resolutions of the international legitimacy and the UN Security Council resolutions, in particular Resolution 2334." | 
