The White House released a statement in which it said that only general understandings had been reached in talks with Israel about construction in West Bank settlements, but described talks that took place in Washington as serious and effective. The White House statement was released at the end of the talks that went on for four days. The American team stressed to the Israeli team that President Donald Trump was concerned about the impact Israel’s settlement enterprise has had on the progress of advancing peace between the Palestinians and Israel. The White House made clear that the Israeli delegation led by Prime Minister Netanyahu’s Bureau Chief Yoav Horowitz said that Israel would adopt a settlement policy that took the United States’ concern into account. The White House further stated that the talks with the Israeli team also dealt with ways to improve the economic situation in the Palestinian territories and to expand the transfer of humanitarian and economic aid to the Gaza Strip.
