A Diminished Wall and Israeli Settlements

A Diminished Wall
When Donald Trump first proposed a border wall between the United States and Mexico, he said it would be 2,000 miles long. During the Republican presidential debates, he shortened the wall to 1,000 miles without giving any explanation for the change. The wall has continued to shorten and be less "beautiful." President Trump has recently scaled back the length of the wall to the 700-900 mile range; also, the roughly 600 miles already protected by walls, fences or other barriers  may count toward the overall length.

In the campaign, Trump described a wall about 30 feet high, built of steel. Now he doesn't specify height, but wants holes in it so that it can be seen through, as drug cartels may be hurling 60-pound bags of drugs over the wall. Trump is also seriously thinking about putting solar panels on the wall and he says companies are looking into it.

Macron and Netanyahu on Settlements
French President Emmanuel Macron told Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu: "The problem is that you're making it more complicated by building more and more in the settlements." Macron told Netanyahu that President Trump told him that there is an opportunity for peace in the Middle East and he, Macron, supports Trump's efforts.

Netanyahu answered that: "It will be complicated to move quickly with the American plan." Netanyahu also said that Trump is focusing too much on Palestinian President Abbas and he needs a parallel process with the Arab states.

ADDENDUMS:
*Vice President Mike Pence said in a keynote address at the Christians United for Israel summit in Washington D.C.: "I promise you that the day will come when President Trump moves the American Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem."

*Attorney General Jeff Sessions has said: "The president has also directed me to issue guidelines on how to apply federal religious liberty protections. The department is finalizing this guidance, and I will soon issue it."

*Rather than "rip it up," President Trump will certify the deal with Iran on nuclear weapons, which must be done every 90 days. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has said that Iran "is unequivocally in default of the 'spirit' of the agreement," whatever that means. Yet, Trump remains convinced that the deal is a bad one for the United States.

*The Trump Organization has its clothing and home goods made in countries such as China, Mexico. Bangladesh and Pakistan. Ivanka Trump's clothing line relies on factories in China, Indonesia and Bangladesh. Now-departed press secretary Sean Spicer defended Trump's use of overseas manufacturing, because, as a businessman, he has "a unique understanding of regulations and other conditions that make it difficult for companies to make their goods in the U.S."