Netanyahu's honeymoon with Trump ends abruptly
Jerusalem (CNN) This was supposed to be Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's victory lap.
After a combined 10 years leading the government, he finally had a Republican president in the White House, with a Republican House and Senate to boot. It should have been the perfect match for Netanyahu's right-wing coalition.
The prime minister would be free of the condemnation of construction in West Bank and East Jerusalem settlements that became routine under former President Barack Obama, the right wing believed. President Donald Trump would allow Israel to build and build freely.
Within 10 days of Trump's inauguration, Israel approved plans for more than 6,000 housing units in settlements as well as the first brand-new settlement municipality in the West Bank in nearly two decades.
Heaping praise upon Trump at their first news conference together in Washington, Netanyahu said: "There is no greater supporter of the Jewish people and the Jewish state." Vice President Mike Pence is expected to also receive a warm reception when he addresses the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) at its large annual conference in Washington, which begins on Sunday.
And the settlement movement rejoiced at the new White House leadership.
"I think (Trump) loves Israel," said Chaim Silberstein, spokesman for the Beit El settlement outside of Ramallah. "I think he loves the biblical heartland of Israel, which is here." Some even spoke in messianic terms.
Education Minister Naftali Bennett, head of the right-wing Jewish Home party and one of the most outspoken Israeli opponents of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, declared after the elections, "The era of a Palestinian state is over."
But for Netanyahu, the honeymoon period lasted less than two months.
Trump quickly walked back his oft-repeated campaign promise to move the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, and he criticized Israeli settlements as "not good" for peace.
At their joint White House appearance, Trump told Netanyahu to "hold back on settlements for a bit." Trump wanted a chance to conclude what he called "the ultimate deal": peace between Israelis and Palestinians.
On Thursday, after two rounds of talks spanning the US and the Middle East, the White House put out a statement saying that the American delegation "reiterated President Trump's concerns regarding settlement activity in the context of moving towards a peace agreement," adding, "The Israeli delegation made clear that Israel's intent going forward is to adopt a policy regarding settlement activity that takes those concerns into consideration."
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Trump negotiating ME peace.
...as well, if I were Bibi I wouldn't trust him any further than I could throw him.
"I am shocked! Shocked to find that lying has been going on in here!"
...as well, if I were Bibi I wouldn't trust him any further than I could throw him.
If I were... anyone at all... I wouldn't trust him...
Bibi is getting a lesson in Trumpisms...Pissing on Bibi foot and telling him it's raining.
Every president is SUPPOSED to say they will bring peace to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It is part of the job.
Right wing Israeli hopes are built up now because Trump is anti-Muslim. That doesn't necessarily mean he actually gives a crap about Israel though. He seems to because that is his job.
After Trump wins, the first thing Israel does is declare the two-state solution dead and plan a larger settlement expansion. That however, is a recipe for conflict not peace. Even an ignoramus could see that so Trump expressed concern. I doubt there's any meaningful rift between Trump and Israel's braying jackass Netanyahu but, if there is, maybe Trump's not as stupid as I thought.
Another pivot from Team Trump......