Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon (left) with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. Photo: Permanent Mission of Israel to the United Nations.

JNS.org — Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon has downplayed the Trump administration’s recent criticism of new Israeli settlement construction.

Danon told Israel Radio on Friday morning that the White House’s statement that “the construction of new settlements or the expansion of existing settlements beyond their current borders may not be helpful in achieving” peace, was not “a U-turn” in Trump policy.

“The meaning is: wait until the meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu, who arrives in Washington in less than two weeks for a meeting with President Trump and then set policy,” Danon insisted.

He added that Israel is a sovereign state that makes its own policies, and “we will not be in full agreement with the United States on everything over the next four years.”