An Israeli delegation arrived in Washington, D.C., Sunday to meet with representatives of President Donald Trump’s administration regarding the U.S. request that Israel rein in settlement construction.
Prime Minister’s Office Chief of Staff Yoav Horowitz and Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Ron Dermer were set to hold meetings Monday with an American team led by Trump’s international negotiations representative, Jason Greenblatt.
The Washington meetings come just three days after the end of Greenblatt’s visit to Israel, where he met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in addition to meeting with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah.
Netanyahu said last week that efforts to reach an understanding with the U.S. on settlements are ongoing, but he did not reveal the content of his discussion with Greenblatt. According to various diplomatic officials, Netanyahu is asking for the Trump administration’s approval of new construction in eastern Jerusalem and existing settlement blocs in exchange for a construction freeze outside the blocs.