Pompeo says that the colonies in the West Bank are legal By stating last night that "the establishment of the Israeli colonies in the West Bank is not incompatible with international law," US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo modifies the legal position of his country adopted by the Carter Administration eleven years after Israel will occupy that territory - until then under Jordanian and formerly British control - in the war of 67. "We strongly reject and condemn the statement by Pompeo that goes against international law," underline the spokesman for Palestinian President Nabil Abu Rudeina who, like the rest of Palestinian leaders, prays that Trump will stop being the White House tenant after 2020 elections. The Palestinian rais highlights that the US "has no authority to give legitimacy to the colonies and has lost its credibility in Palestinian eyes."