Outgoing Israeli Ambassador to Washington Sallai Meridor has expressed concerns over the row between Israel and the United States over construction, telling the media the current situation may indeed impact the “peace process”.

Quoted by Ynet, Meridor warns that in addition to complicating relations between Israel and her strongest ally, mounting tensions over construction in Yehuda and Shomron, and now in eastern Yerushalayim, may significantly deter regional peace-making gestures.

Meridor added that democrats in the United States are far more supportive of Israel regarding Israel, but the issue of Yehuda and Shomron remains controversial. He used former Prime Ministers Sharon and Begin as examples, explaining this is not the first time Jerusalem has opposed American policy, but he cautioned it takes some time, effort and patience to build an intimate relationship, something that demands tact, hinting public statements rivaling US policy may be counter-productive.

Meridor points out that the American diplomatic realities today are changed as well, and the new administration has shifted to centrist left and this reality must also be addressed. The ambassador stressed the time issue, stating in the beginning, relations between Sharon and former President Bush were not close, as was the case between Ehud Olmert and the White House, but over time, good working relationships evolved, and this may be the case concerning Netanyahu and President Barak Obama.

Shortly after assuming office, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu informed Meridor that he was being replaced by Dr. Michael Oren, who on Monday presented his credentials to President Obama.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)