Donald Trump will appoint a real estate lawyer with minimal experience of foreign relations as his special representative for international negotiations, a role that involves overseeing negotiations between Israelis and the Palestinians.

Jason Greenblatt, who served as Trump’s top adviser on Israel policy during the campaign along with fellow lawyer David Friedman, will take on the role in the president-elect’s administration. Friedman has already been announced as Trump’s controversial pick for ambassador to Israel.

Greenblatt, whose expertise is in real estate law, did not have any significant foreign policy experience prior to Trump’s presidential campaign. He wrote a Washington Post editorial in July defending Trump from charges of antisemitism.

Donald Trump's Israel ambassador is hardline pro-settler lawyer Read more

His appointment comes as the Obama administration controversially declined to veto a resolution in the UN security council on Friday that condemned settlement construction by Israel in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. This action met bipartisan condemnation in Congress and Trump pointedly intervened on social media to request that Obama veto the measure.

Greenblatt’s appointment is further evidence that Trump’s administration will mark a sharp change in direction in policy toward Israel and the Palestinian territories.

“Mr Trump does not view the settlements as being an obstacle for peace,” Greenblatt said in a November interview. He added: “The two sides are going to have to decide how to deal with that region, but it’s certainly not Mr Trump’s view that settlement activity should be condemned and that it’s an obstacle for peace – because it is not the obstacle for peace.”

In a statement released to CNN, Greenblatt said: “My philosophy, in both business and in life, is that bringing people together and working to unite, rather than to divide, is the strongest path to success. I truly believe that this approach is one that can yield results for the United States in matters all over the world.”

Aside from his work for Trump, Greenblatt practiced law at the firm of Fried Frank, Harris, Shriver and Jacobson, and also formed a business called The Credit Workshop in 1992 with his brother, Joseph Greenblatt, who is currently serving up to 18 years in New York prison for fraud. The father of six also runs a parenting blog with his wife, Naomi.