Pompeo Becomes First U.S. Secretary of State to Visit Israeli Settlement

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo paid the first-ever visit by a top U.S. diplomat to an Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank on Thursday after announcing a new initiative to combat the international Palestinian-led boycott movement.

The visit to the settlement, and the announcement that the U.S. would brand the boycott movement as anti-Semitic and cut off all funding for groups that participate in it, offered a parting gift to Israel from an administration that has broken with decades of U.S. policy to endorse Israel's claims to territory seized in war.

A State Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the visit to the Psagot winery in a settlement near Jerusalem.

Reporters were not allowed to accompany him.

Pompeo had earlier said he would pay a visit to the Golan Heights.

Israel seized the West Bank and the Golan Heights in the 1967 war and later annexed the Golan in a move not recognized internationally.

Israel has built dozens of settlements in the West Bank, which the Palestinians want for their future state.

Most of the international community views the settlements as a violation of international law and an obstacle to peace.

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[cookiesandmilk]

I hope the world can see through this.

[kadriismail]

I am a American Palestinian, and I’m going to say something from all my heart. Secretary of State Pompeo it is not your place or President trumps place to be giving land of one country to another especially when it is against international law. The Golan is Syrian and will always be Syria. You could try the sparse and claim that it is Israel’s, but one day it will go back to Syria

[kimphan]

Lol he said "real estate." 😲😂😂😂

[samim]

Important piece of real estate? Odd wording.

[teknomanblade]

All I heard was
Me and Trump
Me and Trump
Me and Trump

[thehonesttruth]

God bless USA, Israel, and all our allies.
read the bible and have a good day.

[shean.t]

Classified U.S information being sold as they speak

[jmdsservantofgod]

why is he doing this?.... Trump is up to something

[huegenefrancis]

Disregard the Constitution, he will b on his way out of that position soon...he serve a man not the country, he is not honest...they dont even have shame...

[justicejustice]

Where is the peace between Israelis and Pakistanis treaty?

[DeathBringer]

Pompeo is a big reason we keep getting dragged into foreign war and foreign interventions over the years.

[littledorrit]

Settlements are against international law. What a dope Pompeo is.

[kilors]

Waiting for data on what Israel has done to help America

[QueenAllTheWay]

"Would you like to go out for lunch, Mike?"
Mike: There will be a smooth transition to a second trump administration.

[betterffd]

Mike is the type to visit a graveyard and think about price per acre.

[dirkgates]

And he'll be the last. Competence returns to Washington DC in January.

[bnose]

I wish they cared as much about American issues. We certainly know where their priorities are

[patrickweigand]

I'm sure in January Donald Trump will give Mike Pompeo a new job at one of Trump's hotels as head custodian 💩

[DReardon-hqvb]

He's also the first Secretary of State that's a complete toady traitor. There's a first for everything.

[herojiro]

I am not anti-semitic but were not people already there. Did the Jewish people purchase the.settlements? Palestine's Christians too are suffering. Do they really need walls? Can't every just live in peacefully?
.