BICOM

Israel’s leadership has congratulated the new US President on his inauguration amid the uncertainty of the change in administration.

Israel’s President Reuven Rivlin wrote a congratulatory letter in which he called President Trump “a longstanding friend of the State of Israel” and emphasised that “the alliance between our states and our nations is not solely based on friendship. It is rooted in our shared values”.

He concluded by inviting Trump “to visit the State of Israel and [to] be our guest in Jerusalem”.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent congratulations via social media “to my friend President Trump” and said that he looks forward “to working closely with you to make the alliance” between Israel and the US “stronger than ever”.

Netanyahu’s office announced that the Prime Minister enjoyed a “very warm” phone conversation with Trump yesterday, during which he “expressed his desire to work closely…to forge a common vision to advance peace and security in the region, with no daylight between the United States and Israel”. Trump reportedly invited Netanyahu to visit Washington next month.

Jewish Home leader Education Minister Naftali Bennett said via social media that Trump’s administration brings in “a new diplomatic era”. Bennett said he will use the opportunity of a new administration to push for annexation of parts of the West Bank. However, Bennett did agreed yesterday to put a bill on hold to annex Ma’aleh Adumim, a city east of Jerusalem. The bill was set for discussion by ministers, but reports say Netanyahu indicated that the Trump administration does not want any such hasty moves.

Also yesterday the Jerusalem Municipality planning committee gave permission yesterday for the construction of 566 new homes in East Jerusalem.

Deputy Mayor Meir Turgeman said “the rules of the game have changed” with Trump in power.

However, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer indicated no immediacy to relocating the US Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, as Trump pledged during the election campaign.

Spicer said: “We are at the very beginning stages of even discussing the subject.”