AFP, Jerusalem :
Israel has moved immediately to take advantage of US President Donald Trump’s pledges of support, announcing a major settlement expansion that deeply concerns those hoping to salvage a two-state solution with the Palestinians.
Since Trump’s inauguration last week, Israel has approved some 3,000 settler homes in the occupied West Bank and in annexed east Jerusalem, signalling a sharp change of pace from such projects during the Barack Obama years.
“Netanyahu is taking advantage of the presidential transition in the United States in order to appease the settlers, a small minority of the Israeli public, and score political points with his right flank,” settlement watchdog group Peace Now said. It said Israel’s government was “jeopardising the two-state solution,” the basis of years of negotiations.
Obama’s administration, like much of the world, repeatedly called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to halt settlement expansion, warning that it was gradually eating away at the possibility of a two-state solution.
In a rare move, Obama’s White House even declined to veto a UN Security Council resolution in the waning days of his adminstration condemning Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory.
Such actions deeply angered Israel, but the United States is its most important ally, providing it with more than $3 billion per year in defence aid, leaving it little choice but to pay heed.
Israel expects a far different reception from Trump, who has pledged strong support and called for the UN anti-settlement resolution to be vetoed.
Netanyahu, who heads what is seen as the most right-wing government in Israeli history, spoke with the new president by phone on Sunday and the two are due to meet in person in early February.
In a telling break with the previous administration, the White House did not condemn Israel’s settlement announcements.
“Israel continues to be a huge ally of the United States,” White House spokesman Sean Spicer said Tuesday when asked about Trump’s perspective on settlement expansion.
“He wants to grow closer to Israel to make sure it gets the full respect in the Middle East. We’ll have a conversation with the prime minister.”
Israel has moved immediately to take advantage of US President Donald Trump’s pledges of support, announcing a major settlement expansion that deeply concerns those hoping to salvage a two-state solution with the Palestinians.
Since Trump’s inauguration last week, Israel has approved some 3,000 settler homes in the occupied West Bank and in annexed east Jerusalem, signalling a sharp change of pace from such projects during the Barack Obama years.
“Netanyahu is taking advantage of the presidential transition in the United States in order to appease the settlers, a small minority of the Israeli public, and score political points with his right flank,” settlement watchdog group Peace Now said. It said Israel’s government was “jeopardising the two-state solution,” the basis of years of negotiations.
Obama’s administration, like much of the world, repeatedly called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to halt settlement expansion, warning that it was gradually eating away at the possibility of a two-state solution.
In a rare move, Obama’s White House even declined to veto a UN Security Council resolution in the waning days of his adminstration condemning Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory.
Such actions deeply angered Israel, but the United States is its most important ally, providing it with more than $3 billion per year in defence aid, leaving it little choice but to pay heed.
Israel expects a far different reception from Trump, who has pledged strong support and called for the UN anti-settlement resolution to be vetoed.
Netanyahu, who heads what is seen as the most right-wing government in Israeli history, spoke with the new president by phone on Sunday and the two are due to meet in person in early February.
In a telling break with the previous administration, the White House did not condemn Israel’s settlement announcements.
“Israel continues to be a huge ally of the United States,” White House spokesman Sean Spicer said Tuesday when asked about Trump’s perspective on settlement expansion.
“He wants to grow closer to Israel to make sure it gets the full respect in the Middle East. We’ll have a conversation with the prime minister.”
