Israel has rejected a US proposal to convene a summit with the Palestinian Authority

Israel has made it clear to the United States that such a summit will end in a crisis of expectations that could lead to violence. A senior US envoy will arrive in Ramallah in the coming days for calming talks with the Palestinian president who is deeply frustrated by the Biden administration.

this is the end"

Lightning Ravid

08/06/2022

Wednesday, 08 June 2022, 19:30 Updated: 19:53

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In the video: Statements by Bennett and Blinkan and Gantz and Blinken ahead of the Negev summit (Photo: Roni Kanfo and Nicole Leskbi / Ministry of Defense)

Israel last week rejected a bid by the Biden government to hold a high-level summit with the Palestinian Authority - Walla Walla was told today (Wednesday)!

Three senior Israeli officials.

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Abu Mazen frustrated by US policy on Israeli-Palestinian issue (Photo: Reuters)

why is it important:

• The Biden administration is trying to create a "political horizon" or some diplomatic process between Israel and the Palestinians to strengthen the Palestinian Authority.

• Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) has warned Israel and the United States of the dangerous consequences of the continued freeze in the peace process.

• The undermining of the coalition and the fact that the government was formed on the basis of the agreement not to advance political moves on the Palestinian issue does not allow Israel room for maneuver on the issue.

In the news center:

• Last week, National Security Adviser Eyal Hulta met in Washington with Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman.

  Senior Israeli officials said that during the meeting, Sherman raised a proposal to convene a five-year summit with the participation of Israel, the Palestinian Authority, the United States, Egypt and Jordan.

• According to senior Israeli officials, Sherman suggested that the summit be at the level of foreign ministers and take place either in Washington or in one of the countries in the region - Egypt or Jordan.

• Hulta told Sherman that he believes the conditions on both sides are not suitable for promoting such an initiative and stressed that Israel does not want the event to be a "photo-op" that ends without results and creates a crisis of expectations on the Palestinian side.

• "We do not like this idea. Past experience has shown us that such a crisis of expectations could lead to a violent escalation on the ground," said a senior Israeli official.

• A senior State Department official declined to comment.

  "We have nothing to report," he said.

Behind the Scenes:

• The idea of ​​convening a high-level meeting between Israel and the Palestinians under the auspices of the United States, Egypt and Jordan was first presented to the Prime Minister's Office by the White House as early as last December.

• For months senior Israeli officials have not given answers to their American counterparts on the issue in the hope that the issue will dissolve and the initiative will die automatically.

• However when the issue resurfaced by Deputy Foreign Minister Sherman last week it was decided that Israel would say more clearly that it was opposed.

• A senior Israeli official said the Jerusalem government does not understand why the Biden government continues to push this idea time and time again even though it is clear that its chances of success are slim.

The Biden administration is trying to create a "political horizon" between Israel and the Palestinians to strengthen the PA (Photo: Reuters, REUTERS / Al Drago)

the other side:

• The Biden administration will in the coming days send Barbara Leaf, the most senior diplomat for Middle East affairs at the US State Department to visit Jerusalem and Ramallah, during which she will meet with senior Israeli and Palestinian officials.

• The main purpose of Leaf's visit will be to reassure Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) regarding the American commitment to the Palestinian issue and the two-state solution.

• Leaf, who has held a senior position on the White House National Security Council since President Biden took office two weeks ago, has taken up her new position as Assistant Secretary of State for Middle East Affairs.

• Israeli officials said Shlif would arrive in Israel on Saturday.

  Tonight, the Israeli-Palestinian portfolio holder at the US State Department, Eddie Amar, arrived in Israel to prepare for Leaf's visit.

• During her visit to Ramallah, she is expected to emphasize to Abu Mazen American support for a two-state solution, to express a commitment to US relations with the Palestinians. She will also emphasize the need to reduce tensions and avoid escalation.

• A spokesman for the US State Department declined to comment on her upcoming visit.

In rooms:

• Leaf's visit comes after a difficult phone call last week between Abu Mazen and US Secretary of State Tony Blinken.

• Abu Mazen is very frustrated with American policy on the Israeli-Palestinian issue and believes that the Biden administration has broken its promises.

• "I'm tired. This is the end," Abu Mazen told Blinken in a phone call between them, according to a source involved in the details.

• The source noted that Abu Mazen told Blinken that if there was no change for the better in the situation of the Palestinian Authority, it would take harsh measures against Israelis, even if they harmed the Palestinians themselves.

• Blinken told Abu Mazen that he was considering appointing Hadi Amar as a "special representative for Palestinian affairs" in order to have a sort of American consul general based in Washington.

• Abu Mazen was not at all enthusiastic about the idea.

  He reminded Blinkan that he himself had promised him in May a year ago that the United States would reopen the American consulate in Jerusalem.

What next:

• The Biden administration is trying to formulate a package of measures for the Palestinians ahead of the US president's expected visit to Israel and the Palestinian Authority in July.

• The White House wants to reassure the Palestinian president and to avoid a situation in which Biden's visit to the Palestinian Authority will end in failure.

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Tags

• Joe Biden

• Abu Mazen

• Naftali Bennett

• the Palestinian Authority