Still no agreement with US re settlement building

Published: 25 March 2017

Last updated: 4 March 2024

After two meetings in Israel between Netanyahu and Trump envoy Jason Greenblatt and four days of intensive, high-level meetings between Israeli and US representatives in Washington, the Netanyahu government still has no agreement with the US over future settlement building. As a pre-condition for involving Saudi Arabia in a wider, regional settlement, Trump reportedly wants quota for construction within the main settlement blocs and a freeze on construction anywhere else except in East Jerusalem. Netanyahu reportedly wants no freeze on construction within the municipal jurisdictions of existing major settlements (much larger than their built areas) and a new settlement in the West Bank that he promised the Amona settlers.

Washington talks end without agreement on Israeli settlements – Ynetnews/Reuters 24.03.17
The round of talks between the Trump administration and Israeli officials has ended without agreement over the issue of settlements; despite setting a more positive tone toward Israel, the US delegation reiterates Trump's concerns over settlement activity.

UN: Israel didn't comply with call to halt settlement activity – Ynetnews 25.03.17
UN envoy Nickolay Mladenov told the Security Council the large number of settlement announcements and legislative action by Israel indicate 'a clear intent to continue expanding the settlement enterprise in the occupied Palestinian territory.'

And see: The liquidator from Washington comes calling on Netanyahu March 21, 2017