Israel was not surprised by U.S. opposition to its decision to retroactively authorize nine Jewish settler outposts in the occupied West Bank, a senior Israeli official said on Monday.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said such unilateral moves exacerbate tensions and undermine peace prospects.
The senior Israeli official, who declined to be identified, said Israel and the United States have disagreed on this issue for decades.
"These disagreements did not hurt and will not hurt the strong alliance between Israel and the United States," the official said.
