The American ambassador to Israel is set to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, says the US State Department in the wake of sour ties between Washington and Tel Aviv over the United States’ green light for a UN resolution against the regime’s illegal settlements in Palestine.
The Sunday announcement was made after Tel Aviv summoned representatives of countries that somehow backed the resolution at the UN Security Council on Friday, including the US envoy Daniel Shapiro.
"We can confirm Ambassador Shapiro will meet with PM Netanyahu this evening," the State Department said in a brief statement to AFP.
According to Israeli foreign ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon, 14 envoys of UN Security Council members would visit the ministry in East Jerusalem al-Quds throughout the day.
Washington refused to veto the resolution, which demanded "Israel immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including east Jerusalem (al-Quds)."
Over half a million Israelis live in more than 230 illegal settlements built since the 1967 Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem al-Quds.
The hawkish Israeli premier (pictured above) censured the UN over the resolution, which he described as a "shameful blow against Israel."
He has also pointed the finger at US President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry for being behind the decision.
The move will complicate relations between the regime’s ruling authorities and the pro-Israeli future president, Donald Trump, who has called the UN move a “big loss” for Tel Aviv.