US President Asks Netanyahu to Visit to Discuss Urgent Issues in February

US president Donald Trump invited Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu to the US capital next month in a telephone call Sunday. The exact date for the meeting will be worked out in the next few days. Just hours between the telephone call between the two leaders, which was characterized as “very warm” in a press release following, Israel issued permits for construction of several hundred new homes in East Jerusalem. Netanyahu’s office issued a statement following the phone call saying both leaders agreed on a treaty with Iran over nuclear power development, on the peace process in Israel and other issues. The PM expressed the desire to work closely with the president to develop a vision for regional peace and security. There was no immediate discussion of moving the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The acting White House press secretary told AFP talks on that, which would recognize Israel’s claims to Jerusalem as its capital, were still in the early stages. President Trump has had or will have meetings with the leaders of Great Britain and Canada in the coming weeks.