Rubio meets Netanyahu to discuss the repercussions from Qatar

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, meets in Jerusalem, with Israel’s strike in Qatar is expected to be at the top of the agenda.

Last week’s strike, which targeted senior Hamas leaders on the lands of the United States ally, the international anger and was criticized by President Donald Trump.

“It is clear that we are not happy with that. The president was not happy with that. Now we need to move forward and know what comes after that,” Rubio said earlier.

The meeting comes at a time when Arab leaders hold a summit in an offer to support Qatar. Its Prime Minister urged the international community to stop implementing “double standards” and punishing Israel.

Gulf state hosts a major American air base and has played a major role in intermediate diplomatic efforts to end the war in Gaza, as it worked as an intermediary of indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel.

On Sunday, Netanyahu told the correspondents that the relationship between the United States to Israel was “solid like stones in the western wall” while he and Rubio made a short visit to the Holy Location in the Old City of Jerusalem.

During the trip – accompanied by an American ambassador to Israel, Mike Hakapi – Rubio Written and put it in the wall, which is traditional rituals by visitors. Men ignored the questions of journalists who focus on Israel’s strikes in Qatar.

It is also expected to be in discussion between Netanyahu and Rubio is the Israeli military plans to seize Gaza City and Israel’s continuous expansion of settlements in the occupied West Bank.

During the weekend, the Israeli army entered the front with the demolition of residential buildings in Gaza City, and according to the local media – is now ready to start the ground operations in the western neighborhoods of the city.

The residents of Gaza City have called for leaving and heading south to a central area of ​​the tape. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) estimate that about 250,000 Palestinians have escaped, although hundreds of thousands are believed to be in the area.

Some say they cannot go to the south, while others say southern Gaza is not safe because Israel has carried out air strikes there as well. Some said they tried to go south, but they were unable to put their tents, so he returned to Gaza City.

Netanyahu and Rubio will come before the United Nations General Assembly session next week, where some American allies – including the United Kingdom, France, Canada, Australia and Belgium – are expected to know the state of Palestine.

This expected recognition of the discussion within Israel on the future of the West Bank has intensified, with more militant elements insisting that the oppression is the only way to prevent a Palestinian state.

In late August, the Israeli government gave final approval to E1 settlement project East Jerusalem, which, in fact, divide the West Bank into two – divide the Palestinian population in the north and south.

Netanyahu said: “The signing of an agreement to move forward with E1 last Thursday:” We will fulfill our promise that there is no Palestinian state. This place belongs to us. “

Earlier this month, the Israeli Finance Minister on the right, Bizalil Smotrich, revealed his proposal to include nearly four fifths of the West Bank.

Israel has built about 160 settlements of 700,000 Jews since it occupied the West Bank and East Jerusalem – the Palestinians want lands, along with Gaza, for a vibrant future state – during the Middle East war in 1967. It is estimated at 3.3 million Palestinians living alongside them.

Settings are illegal under international law.

Monday evening, Rubio is scheduled to visit the ancient city of David, It was established by a settlement organization in the Palestinian neighborhood of SilwanIn occupied East Jerusalem.

The inauguration of the “Hajj Road” will attend, a tunnel dug under the Palestinian homes that are said to refer to a street in the Roman era that the pilgrims took to the Torah Temple, which was one day standing on the well -known site of the Jews as the Mountain Temple and Muslims such as the Noble Sanctury.

Critics say the city of David Park is an attempt to politicize antiquities, at the expense of the Palestinian population.