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Rabat – The US reportedly called for a further postponement of the Negev summit due to its displeasure with new Israeli settlement plans in the occupied West Bank, converging news reports have indicated.
According to Israeli news outlet Y net, the US sent messages to Israel on the Negev forum postponement due to the “approval of the construction plans” in the occupied West Bank.
The Israeli outlet described the American move as an attack on the Israeli government’s promotion of construction plans for 4,560 housing units in the occupied West Bank.
The news comes after US State Department Spokesman Matthew Miller announced the US’ displeasure and disappointment with Israel’s decision to promote the construction of the new housing units on occupied territory.
The six Israeli forced constructions are direct calls for a new escalation, most observers have said.
Miller said that the US is “deeply troubled by Israel’s decision,” noting that the country is also disturbed by the resorts of “changes in the administration of the settlements that accelerate the planning and approval of construction.”
“We call on the Israeli governments to fulfill the commitment it made in Aqaba in Jordan and Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt – and conduct a dialogue aimed at preventing escalation,” he added, recalling that the US oppose the expansion of settlements and unilateral actions that constitute an obstacle to peace and make a two-state solution more difficult to achieve.”
Read also: Morocco, Bahrain, and UAE Contribute to Israel’s 2022 Arms Sales Increase
Earlier this month, Axios quoted US and Israeli officials who confirmed the postponement of the event. However, the sources claimed that the decision was due to Eid al-Adha being around the corner
“There was optimism among the Biden administration and Israeli government officials that the meeting would take place on June 25, but the Moroccans asked the U.S. again to postpone the meeting due to the Islamic holiday Eid al-Adha,” Axios reported.
The Negev Forum brings together high-level officials from the countries that have signed the US-brokered Abraham Accords with Israel.
Under the US-brokered accords, Israel re-established diplomatic relationships with several countries most notably including the UAE, Bahrain, and Morocco.
Israel hosted the first Negev summit in March 2022, with Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Bourita traveling to the country to attend the forum.
