Donald Trump casts US relationship with Israel into doubt with settlement demand

Israel demands: President Donald Trump
AP Photo/Evan Vucci
David Gardner8 February 2017

President Trump’s relationship with Israel was thrown into doubt last night after he questioned the building of new settlements on occupied land.

Mr Trump’s extraordinary about turn came after maintaining an unapologetically pro-Israel stance throughout his election campaign.

His unexpected stand against settlement construction was all the more embarrassing for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu because it came in a White House statement released just hours after the Israeli leader announced plans to establish the first new settlement of 2,000 homes on the West Bank for two decades.

While Britain, Germany and the European Union have spoken out against the new spike in settlement activity, the statement insisted Mr Trump had yet to take an official position on the issue.

But it added: “While we don't believe the existence of settlements is an impediment to peace, the construction of new settlements or the expansion of existing settlements beyond their current borders may not be helpful in achieving that goal.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
REUTERS

The Washington Post claimed the Trump administration has also “pulled back somewhat” on its pledge to move the US Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

The move to distance the US from Israel’s settlement policy is certain to bring a contentious twist to the planned meeting between the two leaders in Washington on February 15.

Mr Netanyahu didn’t see eye to eye with President Obama, but quickly announced plans to build more than 6,000 new settlement homes after Mr Trump’s election triumph, perhaps assuming they were on the same page.

There was little to suggest in any of Mr Trump’s past remarks about Israel that he would take issue with Mr Netanyahu’s pro-settlement government.

He blasted Mr Obama’s refusal to block a UN resolution criticising settlements last year and vowed to stand “side-by-side” with the Israeli administration in October.

His choice of David Friedman, a financial backer of settlements, as US Ambassador to Israel was seen as further proof that he wouldn’t stand in Mr Netanyahu’s way.

David Halperin, the executive director of the Israel Policy Forum, told the Washington Post that Mr Trump was sending a message to Mr Netanyahu.

“It’s a warning sign to the Israeli right that their celebration (of the new administration) may be premature,” he said.

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