Israeli Media: US Wants Settlement Freeze In Parts of West Bank

The Ha’aretz newspaper and Channel 2 News both reported that in his talks with Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu last week, US envoy Jason Greenblatt asked Israel to cease building in isolated West Bank settlements outside of what is called the “settlement blocs.” These are areas, mostly close to Israel’s pre-1967 borders, that Israel intends to keep even if most of the West Bank becomes an independent Palestinian state. According to the report, Greenblatt made It clear that the Trump Administration wants to put substantial restrictions on Israeli building in the settlements. In exchange, the US would tacitly accept Israeli construction in Jewish neighborhoods in east Jerusalem, as well as building in the settlement blocs. Talks continued this week in Washington, although Netanyahu has been hesitant to accept this formula, at least publicly. Netanyahu has promised to build a new settlement for families who were forced to leave their homes in the outpost of Amona in the West Bank, after the Supreme Court found their homes were built on private Palestinian land.