The Yesha council, the umbrella organization of West Bank settlements said the International Criminal Court in the Hague was trying to intimidate Israel by announcing it would begin investigating whether crimes were committed by Israel in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and in Gaza.
"Israeli settlements of Judea Samaria and the Jordan Valley are as legitimate as any other Israel town or village and complies with all the requirements of the law," the statement issued by the council said. "The anti-Semitism exemplified by the ICC is just one more in a long line of tall tales that are removed from reality."
The council called on the Israeli government to extend its authority over Area C, where most Israeli settlements are located, that constitutes 61% of the West Bank.