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American pressure over settlements ‘temporary,’ says Netanyahu

September 28, 2017 at 9:44 am

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu giving a TV interview [IsraelinUSA/Flickr]

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has convinced the US to take the distinction between settlement blocs and isolated settlements off the table, officials at Netanyahu’s office told Haaretz yesterday.

During a meeting with Israeli settlement leaders, Netanyahu said that Israel must uphold its commitment to the current US administration, led by Donald Trump, to restrict settlement building in the West Bank.

Ynet News said that American officials warned Netanyahu against excessive building of settlements in the West Bank.

According to Haaretz, Netanyahu told the settler leaders that American pressure is temporary and they would be able to build new settlements.

Read more: Settlers hurl rocks at Palestinian cars

He promised them he would uphold his commitment made over five years ago to build 300 new units in the settlement of Beit El as compensation for demolishing settlement units in the settlement of Ulpana.

Replying to a request to advance construction plans, he said: “Not everything is possible. What does not happen now will happen in another three months”.