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A8 U.S. NEWS
Monday 23 January 2017

Israeli leader accepts invitation from Trump to visit U.S.

JOSEF FEDERMAN The Palestinians seek all of
Associated Press the West Bank and east
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s Jerusalem — areas cap-
prime minister on Sunday tured by Israel in the 1967
accepted an invitation to Mideast war — for a future
visit the White House next state. The Palestinians and
month in hopes of forg- the international commu-
ing a “common vision” for nity consider all settlements
the region with President illegal, and unilaterally
Donald Trump that could making Maaleh Adumim
include expanded settle- part of Israel would deal a
ment construction on oc- powerful blow to hopes for
cupied territories and a a two-state solution.
tougher policy toward Iran. To the Palestinians, it would
Prime Minister Benjamin be seen as undermining
Netanyahu announced negotiations. Maaleh Ad-
his plans to head to Wash- umim is also strategically
ington hours after delay- located in the middle of
ing a vote on an explosive the West Bank, potentially
proposal to annex one of hindering the establish-
the West Bank’s largest ment of their state. “If they
settlements, apparently to are serious about making
coordinate his policy to- it part of Israel and closing
ward the Palestinians with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, Sun- it down, then it is actually
the new administration. day, Jan. 22, 2017. cutting the West Bank into
The move put on hold leg- Associated Press two,” said Hagit Ofran of
islation that threatens to harshly criticized, and the the internationally backed “very nice.” the anti-settlement group
unleash fresh violence and Palestinian issue. idea of a Palestinian state Netanyahu, a longtime Peace Now.
damage already faded “The prime minister ex- and to annex the Maaleh supporter of the settle- While Trump has not ex-
hopes for Palestinian in- pressed his desire to work Adumim settlement near ments, has nonetheless pressed an opinion on the
dependence. It also may closely with President Jerusalem. been cautious about ex- annexation, he has sig-
have marked Trump’s first Trump to forge a common But after convening his Se- panding them in the face naled a softer approach
presidential foray into Mid- vision to advance peace curity Cabinet on Sunday, of strong opposition from toward the settlement
dle East diplomacy. and security in the region, Netanyahu said his Cabi- the international commu- movement than any of his
After eight years of frosty with no daylight between net ministers, including Ben- nity. In a final showdown predecessors.
relations with President the United States and Is- nett, had decided “unani- with Israel last month, the His designated ambassa-
Barack Obama, Netanya- rael,” the statement said. mously” to delay action on Obama administration al- dor to Israel has close ties
hu has welcomed Trump’s It said a date for Netanya- the annexation plan until lowed the U.N. Security to Jewish West Bank settle-
election as an opportunity hu’s visit would be finalized he goes to Washington to Council to pass a resolution ments, and a delegation
to strengthen ties between in the coming days. meet with Trump. condemning settlements of settler leaders attended
the two allies. Israeli media With Trump signaling a In order to placate Ben- as illegal. Friday’s inauguration as
reported that Netanyahu more tolerant approach to- nett, Israeli media reports But Bennett and other guests of administration
was gearing up plans to ex- ward the much-maligned said Netanyahu had prom- hard-liners believe there is officials. Trump also has al-
pand settlement construc- settlement movement, Is- ised the ministers to clear no longer any reason for ready said he supports one
tion in the occupied West rael’s nationalist right now the way for expanded restraint. “For the first time of Israel’s key demands —
Bank and east Jerusalem believes it has an ally in the settlement construction in in 50 years, the prime min- moving the U.S. Embassy
— a policy that had been White House, and Israeli east Jerusalem and in ma- ister can decide: either from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
condemned by Obama. hard-line leaders make no jor West Bank settlement sovereignty or Palestine,” The president ignored a
Late Sunday, the two men secret they will push for ag- “blocs” that Israel hopes to Bennett wrote on Twitter. question Sunday from re-
held what Netanyahu’s of- gressive action in the occu- keep under a future peace Annexing Maaleh Adumim, porters about the issue.
fice described as a “very pied West Bank. deal. He was quoted as a sprawling settlement of The U.S., like other coun-
warm conversation” by Education Minister Naftali saying his “vision” is to nearly 40,000 people east tries, maintains its embassy
phone. It said they dis- Bennett, leader of the pro- place all settlements under of Jerusalem, could cause in Tel Aviv, saying the con-
cussed the international settlement Jewish Home Israeli sovereignty. a major clash with the Pal- flicting claims to Jerusa-
nuclear deal with Iran, Party, has been pushing In Washington, Trump de- estinians and the rest of the lem must be worked out in
which both men have Netanyahu to abandon scribed their phone call as international community. negotiations.q