A new plan to approve some 2,200 new settlement homes in the West Bank was cut down by Prime Minister Naftali Bennett from an original 3,200 due to a desire not to upset the US administration, Kan news reported Thursday night.
According to the Israeli TV report, the new batch of homes is seen as particularly sensitive, being the first to be brought for approval under President Joe Biden’s administration.
Thus, the final list was cut down by some 1,000 homes that were okayed by the professional level but did not get approval from Bennett, who is anxious not to anger Washington before his first meeting with Biden even takes place.
The two countries have been discussing a trip by Bennett to Washington, and the Israeli premier is expected to head to the White House in the coming weeks.