Washington, Feb 14 (RHC)-- In the United States, the White House is denying reports that the Donald Trump administration has been openly discussing an Israeli plan to formally annex Palestinian lands in the occupied West Bank. 

A spokesperson for the right-wing Likud party quoted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as saying in a closed-door session, “On the subject of applying sovereignty, I can say that I have been talking to the Americans about it for some time.” 

Israel’s West Bank settlements are illegal under international law, and any move to annex Palestinian territory would be a further violation of the Geneva Conventions.  White House spokesperson Josh Raffel on Mondaycalled any reports that the U.S. discussed annexation with Israel “false” -- opening a rare public rift between President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu.