John Kerry: Israeli settlements are 'illegitimate'

During his visit to Palestine on Wednesday, US Secretary of State John Kerry said that the Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territories occupied in 1967 are “illegitimate” and he urged Israel to limit settlement building to help ensure the success of the negotiation process.

“Let me emphasize at this point the position of the United States of America on the settlements is that we consider them… to be illegitimate,” Kerry said.

Speaking at a press conference in Bethlehem following his meeting with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Kerry said that Abbas “wants to try peace and he understands that it requires compromise by all the parties.”

Kerry also announced that the US administration will provide an additional $75 million in aid to help Palestinians build infrastructure projects. During the opening ceremony of Al-Ain Street, a new road in Bethlehem financed by the US Agency for International Development, Kerry added that this amount will be provided in addition to the $25 million that was previously announced.