The White House is expected to hold a meeting presided by U.S. President Donald Trump with U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman and other high-level officials to discuss support over Israel’s plan to annex parts of the West Bank starting on July 1.
The meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, a source familiar with the situation told JNS.
Axios reported on Saturday that a series of meetings is slated to take place that includes Trump, Friedman, White House senior adviser and presidential son-in-law Jared Kushner, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and U.S. National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien. Avi Berkowitz, assistant to the president and Special Representative for International Negotiations, had been scheduled to travel to Israel but is staying in Washington instead to attend these talks.
Israel won’t move forward on annexation without Trump’s approval, according to Axios, which reported the meetings are expected to occur on Monday or Tuesday.
Meanwhile, one position that could be approved by the White House is for Israel to annex parts of the West Bank in stages over several months, reported Haaretz on Sunday, citing “sources who have knowledge of the debate within the American administration.”
