US tight-lipped as Israel settler law sparks world outrage

The United States was conspicuously tight-lipped today amid a world outcry over a new Israeli law allowing the appropriation of private Palestinian land for Jewish settler outposts.
The United Nations, the European Union and the Arab League were just some of those coming out against the legislation passed in parliament late yesterday.
"This bill is in contravention of international law and will have far reaching legal consequences for Israel," UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said in a statement.
"The European Union condemns the recent adoption of the 'Regularisation Law'," foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said, arguing it "crosses a new and dangerous threshold by legalising under Israeli law the seizure of Palestinian property rights".

The law legalises dozens of wildcat outposts and thousands of settler homes in the occupied West Bank, and prompted a Palestinian call for the international community to punish Israel.
Pro-Palestinian Israeli NGOs said they would ask the Supreme Court to strike down the law, and opposition leader Isaac Herzog warned the legislation could result in Israeli officials facing the International Criminal Court.

Washington refused direct comment, in stark contrast to the settlement criticism repeatedly voiced under Barack Obama.
"Prime Minister (Benjamin) Netanyahu will be here on February 15. I don't want to get ahead of that now," White House spokesman Sean Spicer said.

The US State Department said President Donald Trump's new administration "needs to have the chance to fully consult with all parties on the way forward".