image Jason Greenblatt (L), U.S. President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy meets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem March 13, 2017. Picture taken March 13, 2017. Courtesy Matty Stern/U.S. Embassy Tel Aviv/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. EDITORIAL USE ONLY - RTX319TT

Washington and Jerusalem make progress on the issue of Israel’s settlement construction policy

Jason Greenblatt, the special representative for international negotiations to US President Donald Trump, completed his visit to Israel and the West Bank last night after he met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the second time. After the meeting, Netanyahu and Greenblatt issued a joint statement indicating that progress had been made on the issue of Israel’s settlements construction policy and that discussions on the matter between the White House and the Prime Minister’s Office were ongoing. The statement further noted that the conversation between Netanyahu and Greenblatt dealt with ways of moving forward in the peace process over the next few months and with measures that might advance the Palestinian economy.

“We are in the midst of a process of dialogue with the White House and our intention is to reach an agreed upon policy regarding settlement construction, agreed upon for us, of course, not just the American side, of course this will be good for the state of Israel since we have not been in these processes for many years,” said Netanyahu

During Prime Minister Netanyahu’s weekly cabinet meeting, the Israeli leader vowed to honor a commitment he made to Jewish settlers, to build a new settlement in the West Bank. Netanyahu’s promise to the settlers of Amona came just before their outpost was evacuated last month, after it was deemed illegal by Israel’s supreme court, because it was situated on privately owned Palestinian lands. The settlers in turn promised to evacuated the illegal outpost peacefully, even though during the evacuation, which occurred on the first two days of February, their pledge was not upheld by all the residence of the outpost. Nevertheless, Netanyahu said his government will seek to establish an Israeli settlement in the West Bank, on lands the Palestinians demand for their future state, the first in more than two decades. “For the residents of Amona I reiterate: I gave you a promise to build a new community and I will honor that commitment,” added Netanyahu.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced, following his meeting earlier in the day with the US envoy, that he hoped the renewed effort by Washington to reignite the long-stalled negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, would bring about the aspired result of lasting peace.  “Days after that we were visited by President Trump’s envoy Greenblatt who sat with us to get more information and ideas and to explore many issues. He met with us and he met with many Palestinian officials. We hope these contacts will eventually result in a peace led by the United States and the international community,” said Abbas.