In a move seen as an effort to placate the rest of his far-right coalition government, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that there will no longer be any coordination done on the construction of buildings in settlements in occupied East Jerusalem, insisting “we can build where we want and as much as we want.”
The weekend saw a flurry of settlement expansion in East Jerusalem, with officials approving 566 houses in permits. The announcements of the permits were reportedly held off until after the inauguration of President Trump, to try to avoid turning them into a political issue.
The broader intention to build without restriction in East Jerusalem in the future is seen mainly as a concession meant to convince the rest of the coalition government to delay a vote on annexation of parts of the occupied West Bank. While the annexations were meant to spite the UN for recent calls to stop expanding the settlements, Netanyahu appeared concerned they would prompt more international condemnation.
How long the annexation vote is delayed is unclear, as initial reports were that the vote was on hold until Netanyahu meets President Trump in a couple of weeks, while other officials indicated that the agreement was just not to vote on it today, and that it could happen at any time.
Netanyahu is, however, also presenting the further escalation of settlements as just the beginning, suggesting he intends to expand the “sovereignty” to build without limitations into settlements within the West Bank at some point in the future.
This indicates that there’s little doubt in Netanyahu’s mind that he has Trump’s support. However, it may not be so assured because it’s going to take a little time for the Trump bullsh-t stump speeches to be separated out and forgotton. Trump shot his mouth off from a position of complete ignorance and some of that will have to be corrected soon.
Netanyahu boldly moves ahead with his agenda on the basis of Trump really meaning what he said. And also, Netanyahu is emboldened by the buzz that’s now happening on the US pulling out of the UN and demanding other countries pay more for the UN. Neither of which are very likely.
When Trump comes to the appreciation of how the UN serves US intrests so well, things will change. The US is not in a position yet to attempt to carry on and fulfill it’s agenda under the Nato flag. Nato has shown possible cracks.
Well said. Great analysis.
But it is not Trump which is really giving Netanyahu the encouragement. It is our Congress which acts like another illegally occupied Israeli settlement.
I can accept that variation on the theme. But Trump is in tune with the wants of congress on the issue.
This nitwit president has already pulled in his horns and deferred to people in the know. The only part of Trump that should have even been taken seriously is that he said what he needed from the stump, in order to get elected.
This is the reason Raimondo is so bloody wrong when he builds Trump up on foreign policy. And that’s what should be mattering to Raimondo. On domestic policy, who cares, but Raimondo shouldn’t be flogging that horse from this site. It doesn’t do his silly libertarian agenda any good.
Bibi was concerned about more “international condemnation”. Obviously not enough. Cut them off and demand regime change Donald.