Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas' meeting with Defense Minister Bnei Gantz yesterday (Tuesday) in Rosh HaAyin provoked many reactions in the political system, ranging from support for the act to its condemnation by coalition members as well.
Minister Yoaz Handel said in an interview here: "We have contacts with the Palestinian Authority, I personally would not have met with him. It is still in the interest of the State of Israel not to worry about traffic and other municipal matters in the PA."
Minister Yoaz Handel: "I would not have met with Abu Mazen," Photo: Oren Ben Hakon
Minister Zeev Elkin was even more determined, in an interview with 103FM he said: "We did not update the cabinet members on the meeting. I would not invite anyone to my house who pays salaries to Israeli murderers and wants to put senior IDF prisoners in The Hague, including the host himself."
Minister Elkin added: "Ganz's ideology probably allows him to comfortably host someone who pays salaries to terrorists, my ideology does not allow me and I think a large part of the Israeli public would not want someone who pays salaries to a terrorist, who is an Israeli murderer, to be honorably hosted by a senior Israeli minister."
Minister Elkin: "I would not invite a person who pays terrorists into my home", Photo: Oren Ben Hakon
On the other hand, MK Yael Ron Ben Moshe tweeted: "Promoting trust-building measures, in the economic and civil spheres, between us and the Palestinians, is the responsible thing to do."
Promoting trust-building measures, in the economic and civil spheres, between us and the Palestinians, is the responsible thing to do.
Security coordination with the Palestinians has saved and will save many lives.
It is the Minister of Defense who sends our soldiers into battle, he must look into the eyes of our parents and into our own eyes and ensure that he has done everything in his power to prevent the next war.
- Yael Ron Ben Moshe - Yael Ron Ben Moshe (@yael_ron) December 29, 2021
She added: "Security coordination with the Palestinians has saved and will save many lives. The Minister of Defense is the one who sends our soldiers into battle, he must look into the eyes of our parents and ours and ensure that he did everything in his power to prevent the next war."
Minister Issawi Faraj also said: "Only if we meet, are we progressing. Defense Minister Gantz's meetings with President Abu Mazen are essential to establishing trust between the parties and preserving the political horizon."
He added: "At the same time, contacts between the civic and economic actors in the two governments must be strengthened, a task that will be launched soon, with a meeting after a 12-year break of the Joint Economic Committee, the JEC."
Updating Palestinian residents in the population registry and advancing tax payments
A few hours after the meeting, steps approved by Defense Minister Bnei Gantz following his meeting with Abu Mazen were published.
Among the measures, approval of another pulse update of 6,000 residents in the Palestinian population register in Judea and Samaria on a humanitarian background, as well as approval of an update of 3,500 residents on a humanitarian background staying in the Gaza Strip.
In addition, the advance of tax payments worth one hundred million shekels, the addition of 600 BMC permits to senior Palestinian businessmen, the addition of 500 such permit holders licensed to enter Israel by car, and the addition of dozens of VIP permits to senior Palestinian Authority officials.
Ganz and Abu Mazen also discussed the need to approve additional Palestinian master plans.
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