The statement also said that President Trump invited Mr Netanyahu "to an early February meeting at the White House." But a potentially explosive plan to annex a large West Bank Jewish settlement unilaterally was shelved until after Mr Netanyahu and Mr Trump meet. "The prime minister expressed his desire to work closely with President Trump," Mr Netanyahu's office said in a statement. "We are at the very beginning stages of even discussing this subject," White House press secretary Sean Spicer told AFP. During the phone call on Sunday, Mr Trump also stressed the need for direct talks between Palestinians and Israelis.

Source: Daily Nation January 23, 2017 07:46 UTC