Trump Envoy 'Deeply Angered' by Ongoing Hamas Terrorism - Israel Today

Trump Envoy 'Deeply Angered' by Ongoing Hamas Terrorism

Tuesday, January 30, 2018 |  Israel Today Staff

RELATED STORIES

• The Irony of Atheists Condemning the Lord of Lies (Trump)
• US Visa Website Fails to Mention Israel
• Israel Eyes US Presidential Frontrunners

Topics:

America

US President Donald Trump's special representative for international negotiations, Jason Greenblatt, was in the region this past week, and, like Trump, he was none too happy with the behavior of different Palestinian groups.

Following a tour of Gaza terror tunnels provided by the Israeli army, Greenblatt issued a statement harshly condemning the coastal enclave's Hamas rulers.

Excerpts from the statement, via the US Consulate in Jerusalem, read:

"I am deeply angered by Hamas’ continued terror activity, including the digging of tunnels that facilitate terrorist activities. Such activities show Hamas’ continued exploitation of the people of Gaza and Hamas’ threats to stability and security in the region."

"Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and other extremists continue to build up their military strength at the expense of the civilian population, causing danger to the people of Gaza, Israel, and Egypt."

PHOTO: Special Representative for International Negotiations Jason Greenblatt seen during a previous visit to the Gaza Strip - Israel border on August 30, 2017. (David Azagury/U.S. Embassy Tel Aviv)

Want more news from Israel?
Click Here to sign up for our FREE daily email updates

President Trump's Middle-East Peace Push Has Begun - JNS.org CHARISMA NEWS

President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner is in Israel to begin working toward a Middle East peace deal. (Reuters photo)

President Trump's Middle-East Peace Push Has Begun

6/22/2017 JNS.org  CHARISMA NEWS

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser, Wednesday in Jerusalem.

"This is an opportunity to pursue our common goals of security, prosperity and peace, and Jared, I welcome you here in that spirit. I know of your efforts and the president's efforts, and I look forward to working with you to reach these common goals," Netanyahu said.

Kushner is visiting Israel along with U.S. Special Representative for International Negotiations Jason Greenblatt, who met with Netanyahu Tuesday. Greenblatt also met with Isaac Molho, Netanyahu's envoy for negotiations with the Palestinians, and traveled to Ramallah to meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman downplayed the U.S. officials' visits.

"There's nothing [going on] behind the scenes," he told Israel Radio. "Things are simple and transparent. Trump's representatives are still in the learning stages ...They want to understand what the parties are proposing, what the basic interests are, what the basic position is for both Israel and the Palestinians. We are open to dialogue with the Americans. The Palestinian issue is not a new issue on the Israeli government's agenda."

This article was originally published at JNS.org. Used with permission.

Charisma's Special Anointing Bundle. Get Charisma magazine plus these 2 Books - The Deborah Anointing & The Esther Anointing for only $24.97. Subscribe Now!

Hearing God's voice changes everything. You'll gain clarity, purpose and direction for your life. Start your journey to live your Life in the Spirit. Click here to draw closer to God!

Netanyahu Set to Approve First West Bank Settlements in 20 Years - MAAYAN LUBELL/REUTERS CHARISMA NEWS

Benjamin Netanyahu with Theresa May (Reuters)

Netanyahu Set to Approve First West Bank Settlements in 20 Years

 3/30/2017 MAAYAN LUBELL/REUTERS   CHARISMA NEWS

Join us on our podcast each weekday for an interesting story, well told, from Charisma News. Listen at charismapodcastnetwork.com.

---

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he expected to sign off on Thursday on building the first new settlement in the occupied West Bank for two decades, even as he negotiates with Washington on a possible curb on settlement activity.

Netanyahu was due to convene his security cabinet later in the day to approve the new enclave, government officials said.

"I made a promise that we would establish a new settlement," Netanyahu told reporters. "We will keep it today. There are a few hours until then, and you will get all the details."

He made the pledge in the run-up to the eviction in February of 40 families from the West Bank settlement of Amona. Israel's Supreme Court said the dwellings had to be razed because they were built illegally on privately owned Palestinian land.

Israel and the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump are in discussions on limiting the construction of settlements, which are built on land Palestinians seek for a state.

Such settlements, in territory that Israel captured in the 1967 Middle East war, are deemed illegal by most of the world. Israel cites biblical, historical and political links to the land, as well as security interests, to defend its actions.

Establishing a new settlement could be a way for Netanyahu to appease far-right members of his coalition government, who are likely to object to any concessions to U.S. demands for restraints on building.

Trump, who had been widely seen in Israel as sympathetic towards settlements, appeared to surprise Netanyahu during a White House visit last month when he urged him to "hold back on settlements for a little bit."

The two then agreed that their aides would try to work out a compromise on how much Israel can build and where.

Trump's Middle East envoy, Jason Greenblatt, this week wrapped up a second trip to the region aimed at reviving Middle East peace talks that collapsed in 2014.

A new settlement would be the first built in the West Bank since 1999. About 400,000 Israeli settlers live in the West Bank which is also home to 2.8 million Palestinians. Another 200,000 Israelis live in East Jerusalem.

Palestinians want the West Bank and East Jerusalem for their own state, along with the Gaza Strip. 

© 2017 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.

Leaders are readers! Subscribe now and get 3 magazines for the price of 1. Get Ministry Today, Charisma and SpiritLed Woman all for $24. YES - Sign me up!

3 Reasons Why you should read Life in the Spirit. 1) Get to know the Holy Spirit. 2) Learn to enter God's presence 3) Hear God's voice clearly! Click Here to draw closer to God!

Another Key Architect of President-Elect Trump's Pro-Israel Policy is Taking an Important White House Job - BOB ESCHLIMAN CHARISMA NEWS

President-elect Donald Trump's corporate legal counsel and most trusted personal adviser, Jason Greenblatt, will follow him to the White House in January. Greenblatt was one of the chief architects of the president-elect's pro-Israel policies. (Submitted photo)

Another Key Architect of President-Elect Trump's Pro-Israel Policy is Taking an Important White House Job

12/27/2016 BOB ESCHLIMAN  CHARISMA NEWS

During the course of the 2016 presidential election cycle, President-elect Donald Trump touted his love and appreciation for Israel and the Jewish people, but that message and how it was articulated was largely the result of Jason Greenblatt's efforts.

As we have previously reported, Greenblatt—who has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer of The Trump Organization for the past 20 years—was one of the principle architects of the Trump campaign's pro-Israel policies, as well as for outreach to evangelical Christians in the late stages of the general election. He will now continue to serve the president-elect as his Special Representative for International Negotiations.

"Jason is one of my closest and most trusted advisors," Trump said. "He has a history of negotiating substantial, complex transactions on my behalf, as well as the expertise to bring parties together and build consensus on difficult and sensitive topics. His talents lend themselves perfectly to the role I have asked him to play, assisting on international negotiations of all types, and trade deals around the world."

The new position has never been created before, and the announcement will no doubt draw questions from the liberal mainstream media about what role Greenblatt might play, particularly in light of the continued absence of a nominee for U.S. Trade Representative. Based on his background, he could easily serve in that capacity, as well.

The Presidential Transition Team released the following biography:

Mr. Greenblatt received his J. D. degree in 1992 from the New York University School of Law. Following law school, Jason worked for Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson before joining the Trump Organization. Jason is a frequent lecturer and public speaker about a variety of topics.

Jason has been an Adjunct Professor of Management at Yeshiva University where he taught a course entitled Real Estate 101: The Anatomy of a Real Estate Deal. Jason also founded a website whose purpose is to promote bonding between parents and their teens and which is designed to teach teens the importance of giving back to society and other life lessons.

"I am deeply grateful and humbled by President-elect Trump's decision to appoint me to represent the United States in international negotiations," he said. "I have known President-elect Trump for two decades and firmly believe that he is a leader with tremendous vision, skill and talent.

"It is an exceptional honor for me to join President-elect Trump and the incredible team he is assembling as they set out to change the world for the better and Make America Great Again. My philosophy, in both business and in life, is that bringing people together and working to unite, rather than to divide, is the strongest path to success.

"I truly believe that this approach is one that can yield results for the United States in matters all over the world. I look forward to serving on President-elect Trump's team, and helping to achieve great outcomes for our country."

3 Reasons Why you should read Life in the Spirit. 1) Get to know the Holy Spirit. 2) Learn to enter God's presence 3) Hear God's voice clearly! Go deeper!

Has God called you to be a leader? Ministry Today magazine is the source that Christian leaders who want to serve with passion and purpose turn to. Subscribe now and receive a free leadership book.

Stronger Pro-Israel Language Recommended for GOP Platform - BOB ESCHLIMAN CHARISMA NEWS

Evangelicals who have prayed for a reunified Jerusalem and for the U.S. embassy to return to Israel's eternal capital may soon have reason to celebrate. (Reuters photo)

Stronger Pro-Israel Language Recommended for GOP Platform

7/11/2016 BOB ESCHLIMAN  CHARISMA NEWS

Prior to the 2012 Republican National Platform, the GOP has traditionally called for a united Jerusalem as the eternal capital of Israel, and that the U.S. government move its permanent embassy there.

During the last platform debate, Republican operatives removed the language, which is significant not only to evangelicals, but to most mainstream Americans who support Israel. Pastor Mario Bramnick, who also serves as president of the Hispanic Israel Leadership Coalition, says he's confident new, stronger pro-Israel language is about to be reinserted into the GOP platform for 2016.

"We have been working with the senior advisers on Israel with the Trump campaign," he said. "We're working to not only rectify the language, but to insert stronger language, to call for a united Jerusalem and to move the embassy from Tel Aviv to the unified Jerusalem."

Bramnick said Trump's key Israel advisers—Jason Greenblatt, a real estate attorney with the Trump Organization, and David Freeman, president of American Friends of Bet El Communities in Israel—are both Orthodox Jews. Being strong supporters of Israel themselves, he said they have been "very reassuring."

"They're absolutely with us," he added. "The vote is set for [Monday] afternoon or [Tuesday] morning, depending on the calendar. We're very encouraged the language will appear in the platform, and the Republican nominee will be strong on those issues."

Draw closer to God. Experience the presence of the Holy Spirit every month as you read Charisma magazine. Sign up now to get Charisma for as low as $1 per issue.

Has God called you to be a leader? Ministry Today magazine is the source that Christian leaders who want to serve with passion and purpose turn to. Subscribe now and receive a free leadership book.