Will Trump be Israel’s best friend? U.S. Presidential Candidate Donald Trump (left) and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (right). Illustrative. Photo courtesy of Kobi Gideon (GPO)
Israeli home construction in the Biblical heartland of Judea and Samaria is often openly opposed by the United States, despite Israel’s proven past willingness to dismantle such communities—sometimes referred to as settlements—as part of peace measures that haven’t even always been reciprocated with peace from enemies. To better prevent friction between the two allies over Israeli home building, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday following his trip to visit the U.S. that the two nations will set up teams to address settlements, as well as “upgrade relations” in security, technology and more.
Netanyahu said in comments released by his office that he and U.S. President Donald Trump have “agreed to create a team in an area that we have not previously agreed on: I mean, of course, on settlement in Judea and Samaria.” The Israeli leader sounded hopeful of not only an improved relationship with America, but he implied there was opportunity even with Middle Eastern nations that currently have no official diplomatic relations with Israel.
“We also see the possibility of trying to provide a basis for the growing regional interests that are forming between Israel, the U.S. and countries of the region both to rebuff Iran and to develop other opportunities and normalization. In the end we hope to achieve buy klonopin 2mg peace,” said Netanyahu. “This is a fundamental change and, I would say, has accompanied all of our discussions and has formed the infrastructure of all the agreements between us.”
Almost none of the Arab nations in the Middle East have formal diplomatic relationship with Israel, ostensibly today over the Palestinian conflict but originating as a general opposition to Israel’s existence at all. However, coordination on Iran’s nuclear threat has reportedly impacted the view of Israel as an enemy nation, at least unofficially.
Netanyahu noted that Iran is another area where the Israelis and the Americans are already on the same page while noting that the “common view about the dangers and opportunities in the Middle East” has become stronger between the allies.
Said Netanyahu, “The two of us see eye to eye on the main—and growing—threat from Iran and the need to stand against Iranian aggression in the various spheres.”
While in the U.S. last week, Netanyahu met with a number of American officials and legislators, including his first visit with Rex Tillerson as the new U.S. Secretary of State, saying they had a “very good meeting.”
Generally speaking, Netanyahu is pleased with the status of the U.S.-Israel relationship, saying, “The alliance between Israel and the US has always been steadfast but, I said, I told them there and also here in Jerusalem: This alliance has become even stronger.”
(By Joshua Spurlock, www.themideastupdate.com, February 19, 2017)