US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman said the US administration has decided to present its plan for a political settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, known as the “deal of the century”, only when a stable government is formed in Israel.
Friedman told an Israeli radio channel on Thursday that the US administration was aware that the overwhelming majority of politicians and the public in Israel would accept and embrace the deal, but preferred to have formal support from a stable government, which makes its decisions without electoral pressure.
Asked if the settlers should be worried about the plan, he said: “No. The deal will not include any clause on the evacuation of anyone from his home, neither settlers nor Palestinians. We oppose the expulsion of people from their homes and consider it immoral.”
On whether the plan would meet the expectations of the Palestinians, Friedman regretted that the Palestinians were absent from the deal, but wished they would join them later.
The US ambassador denied that relations between US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had recently been troubled.
He said: “The relationship between them is excellent and distinctive.”
“We have relations with countries, not just with people. We will cooperate with any prime minister chosen by the Israelis,” he emphasized.
