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WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State John Kerry has staunchly defended the Obama administration's decision to allow the U.N. Security Council to declare Israeli settlements illegal. In a farewell speech at the State Department, Kerry warned that Israel's continued construction of settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem is undermining hopes for the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel.
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office is denouncing Secretary of State John Kerry's Mideast policy speech, saying it was "skewed against Israel" and "obsessively" focuses on Israeli settlements. In a statement, Netanyahu's office says the speech "barely touched upon the root of the conflict — Palestinian opposition to a Jewish state in any boundaries."
PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump is accusing President Barack Obama of throwing up "inflammatory" roadblocks during the transition of power and his administration of treating Israel with "total disdain." Trump took direct issue with the administration's decision to let a U.N. Security Council resolution critical of Israel pass. Trump tweeted: "Stay strong Israel, January 20th is fast approaching!"
CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Charleston church shooter Dylann Roof says he won't be calling any witnesses or presenting evidence while representing himself during the punishment phase of his death penalty trial. But he is working hard to keep secret potentially embarrassing evidence about himself and his family. Roof was convicted earlier this month of killing nine black church members in a racially motivated attack.
CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago authorities say all police officers will be equipped with body cameras by the end of 2017, a year ahead of schedule. Mayor Rahm Emanuel, in announcing the speeded-up schedule, says that body cameras "improve transparency while building trust." Scrutiny of police intensified after the release of a squad-car video last year ago showing a white officer fatally shooting black teenager Laquan McDonald 16 times.
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