Netanyahu denies agreeing to curb ‘settlements’

Referring to reports of an Israeli agreement with the Trump administration to restrict construction in Judea and Samaria, Netanyahu said “there is much in these reports that is not true.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected recent reports Israel agreed to restrict construction in Judea and Samaria as part of a joint mechanism between Israel and the Trump administration.

“There have been reports in the media lately regarding apparent agreements in the talks we are holding with the White House on the issue of settlement construction,” Netanyahu noted at his weekly Cabinet meeting on Sunday.

“I would like to make it clear there is much in these reports that is not true,” Netanyahu stressed. “I will not go into details” and that “our talks with the White House are continuing.”

Israel’s Channel 2 reported over the weekend that in the framework of a joint mechanism between Netanyahu’s coalition and the Trump administration, agreed on during Netanyahu’s visit to the White House in February, Netanyahu consented to construction limitations in Judea and Samaria. In return, the Trump administration would reportedly allow for Netanyahu to fulfill his pledge to build a new community for the evacuees of the former community of Amona, demolished on February 1.

The Prime Minister’s office released a statement on Saturday night denying the reports.

“We do not take to the report positively or negatively,” Netanyahu’s office stated, according to Israel’s Channel 2. “The report is incorrect” with “quite a few inaccuracies.”

By: Jonathan Benedek, World Israel News