ISRAEL has delayed a Bill that would connect a number of West Bank settlements to Jerusalem amid pressure from the United States.
The bill aims to solidify the city’s Jewish majority, but stops short of formal annexation, making the practical implications unclear. It says the communities would be considered “daughter municipalities” of Jerusalem.
The Palestinians claim both east Jerusalem and the West Bank, territories captured by Israel in the 1967 Six Day War, as part of their future state, a position that has wide international backing.
Israel annexed east Jerusalem in a move not recognised internationally.
Haaretz newspaper quoted prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu as saying Israel needs to co-ordinate the Bill with the US.
“The Americans turned to us and inquired what the Bill was about. As we have been co-ordinating with them until now, it is worth (to continue) talking and co-ordinating with them. We are working to promote and develop the settlement enterprise,” the paper quoted Mr Netanyahu as saying at a government meeting on Sunday.
Earlier on Sunday, David Bitan, the Likud party’s parliamentary whip and a close Netanyahu ally, told Army Radio the vote was delayed because “there is American pressure claiming this is annexation”.
Peace Now, an Israeli anti-settlement watchdog group, says the Bill would amount to “de facto annexation” and be a clear step towards full annexation of the West Bank.
US president Donald Trump’s envoy, Jason Greenblatt, has been shuttling throughout the region in the hope of restarting peace talks, which last collapsed in 2014.
But in contrast to the Obama administration, Trump has not explicitly endorsed a Palestinian state.
He has also has shown some tolerance for settlement building, urging Israel to show restraint but saying a complete halt is unnecessary.
Israel says the fate of the settlements, home to more than 600,000 Israelis, should be decided through peace talks along with other core issues like security.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here