Israeli leaders and government ministers congratulated Donald Trump on his victory in the American presidential race and said that they anticipate exciting changes in policies relating to Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria.
Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat called Trump a “devoted supporter of Jerusalem” and said that he expects him to move the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, as Trump promised on the campaign trail.
He also extended an invitation to the president-elect, saying, “I am full of hope for your support for our activities for building in and developing Jerusalem for all her residents, and I invite you to visit the capital of Israel.”
Minister of Education Naftali Bennett released a statement congratulating Trump and the American people and affirming that the special relationship between Israel and America would continue and strengthen.
Bennett took the opportunity to remind Trump of his platform position “to immediately retract the notion of a Palestinian state in the center of the country, which would hurt our security and just cause.”
“This is the position of the President-elect, as written in his platform, and it should be our policy, plain and simple,” he stated. “The era of a Palestinian state is over.”
Leaders of the movement to settle the Biblical heartland also expressed their satisfaction with the election’s outcome. “There is no question that Trump’s statements are the most supportive of Israel and the settlement movement in recent years,” said Yochai Damari, head of the Mount Hebron Regional Council, TPS reported.
“I hope this change leads to a revolution – a revolution in consciousness, a revolution in thought and a revolution in action regarding our approach to settlement in Judea and Samaria. That sort of consciousness could serve as an opening and an opportunity towards real peace.”
MK Bezlael Smotrich (Jewish Home) called for Trump’s new administration to end the freeze on settlements and initiate new building projects in Judea and Samaria.
“The government of the United States has changed, and with it we must do away with the terrible freeze on settlement building that has been forced on the State of Israel by the previous administration. [There must be a] flourish of building and settlement,” he said.
