Washington Communicates: “Construction Only In Yerushalayim”

Jason Greenblatt, who has been appointed by President Trump to be the United States special representative for international negotiations, met with Prime minister Benyamin Netanyahu last week, and requested that Israel cease all construction out of the large settlement blocks in Yehuda and Shomron.

An Israeli source revealed to “Haarets”, an Israeli paper, what the Americans are demanding. According to the source, Greenblatt told PM Netanyahu that President Trump is interested in curbing construction over the green line. The Americans will accept construction in east Jerusalem and the large settlement blocks, with prior coordination of course, but want a guarantee that construction in the rest of Yehuda and Shomron will totally cease.

The report says that Netanyahu expressed reluctance to a settlement freeze, and said that it would be very difficult to approve something like that with a government that is comprised of the ‘Bayit Hayehudi’ and certain top Likud Ministers.

Greenblatt and Netanyahu did not reach an agreement, and it was agreed upon that talks would resume this week in Washington between Netanyahu’s advisors and white house officials.

Prime minister Netanyahu referred to the Mideast talks in a press conference held in China yesterday. “I am not deliberating about building in Yerushalayim. That does not even enter the equation”, said Netanyahu.

However, he did stress that he was open to discuss future construction in settlements over the green.

“I am willing to deliberate, and I am looking for an accepted text for the building in Yehuda and Shomron. There are conflicting views between us and the Americans, and that’s why I met twice with the American envoy to the middle east, Jason Greenblatt. I have also sent representatives to Washington to arrive at an understanding”.

Translated by Eli B.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!