Security Cabinet votes to permit the building of 700 + homes in West Bank, Area C; PA FM rejects move; Islands of Saint Kitts and Nevis recognize the State of Palestine; Trump to host Camp David conference.
Israel’s Security Cabinet on Tuesday approved the construction of some 700 Palestinian houses in Area C in the West Bank, one day ahead of President Trump’s special advisor Jared Kushner’s visit to the region. The move is seen as an effort to open negotiations with the Palestinian Authority, which continues its boycott of Israel and the Trump Administration.
The Palestinians rejected the move, as did several Israeli settler organizations with Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Al Maliki, who is currently on a tour in South America, claiming the efforts are to increase settlement growth in Area C. During Maliki’s tour, the Caribbean islands of Saint Kitts and Nevis announced they recognized the State of Palestine, making the total number of states and bodies recognizing a Palestinian state at 140.
Kushner, alongside special envoy to the region Jason Greenblatt and Special Representative for Iran, Brian Hook, will visit the region this week, with stops scheduled in Jerusalem, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, promoting President Trump’s “Deal of the Century”, both the politic and economic aspects of the deal. Kushner will reportedly invite parties involved to a peace conference at Camp David to be hosted by President Trump. According to reports Wednesday, Trump will hold the conference ahead of Israel’s national elections in September and will expose the outline of his much-anticipated peace plan.
