On video: Abu Mazen at a conference in Kazakhstan after a night of riots in East Jerusalem: We will not accept the continuation of the situation (Palestinian TV)
The Biden administration announced today (Tuesday) to Congress about the appointment of a new special envoy for Palestinian affairs who will be responsible for the US's relations with the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian people - so told Walla!
A significant promotion for him.
Hadi Amar (photo: official website, Twitter)
why is it important
The American decision is an upgrade of the relationship between the USA and the Palestinians. This is the first time that the USA appoints a special envoy in the American State Department who deals specifically only with relations with the Palestinians.
It is also a significant promotion for Amr, who has served for the past two years as the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Israeli-Palestinian Affairs.
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In the news center
A senior official at the US State Department said that the special envoy for Palestinian affairs will sit in Washington and work from the Middle East Division of the State Department.
The American diplomats at the Office of Palestinian Affairs in Jerusalem will work closely with the special envoy.
The special envoy for Palestinian affairs will work closely with the Palestinians and their leadership, and together with the US ambassador to Israel Tom Neides and his team, will continue to work with Israel on issues related to the Palestinians, said the official at the US State Department.
Biden and Abu Mazen at their meeting in Ramallah in July (Photo: Reuters)
Behind the Scenes
Senior American and Palestinian officials said that the move has been in discussions between the Biden administration and the Palestinian leadership for several months.
Palestinian Authority Chairman Abu Mazen initially objected to the appointment, but in recent weeks clarified that the Palestinian Authority will work with Amr and cooperate with him.
The US State Department informed in advance the outgoing Israeli government, Yair Lapid, as well as Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu and his advisers.
between the lines
The creation of the new position of special envoy for Palestinian affairs is also intended to upgrade as much as possible the relations between the US and the Palestinians and the level of American diplomatic representation to the Palestinian Authority, until it is possible to reopen the American consulate in Jerusalem, which served as the American diplomatic mission to the Palestinians until it was closed in 2019.
"As President Biden said during his visit to Israel and the West Bank, we are committed to reopening our consulate general in Jerusalem and to the vision of a two-state solution," said a senior official at the US State Department.
The former American envoy to the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, Martin Indyk, told Walla!
Because the move sends a message to the Palestinians about the importance the Biden administration attaches to relations with them, at a time when the consulate offices in Jerusalem are closed and at a time when the PLO offices in Washington are also still closed.
"The Foreign Minister in Lincoln and other senior officials at the Foreign Ministry in Washington know Hadi Amar and trust him and he will have influence at the highest levels," Indik said.
The big picture
Indik emphasized that the move is an upgrade of relations with the Palestinians at a time when there is a significant deterioration in the situation in the West Bank.
"It shows the great concern in Washington and the administration's recognition that an experienced person is needed to be directly responsible," Indyk said.
He added that Amr's challenge will be to strengthen the Palestinian Authority and convince the Palestinian leadership to carry out serious reforms "without which the West Bank will gradually turn into an uncontrolled area that could explode."
which served as the American diplomatic mission to the Palestinians until it was closed.
The consulate in Jerusalem (Photo: Reuters)
what are they saying
A senior official at the US State Department said that the decision to create the new position was aimed at strengthening relations between the US and the Palestinians.
"This step serves the interests of the United States and strengthens our ability to deepen the relationship with the Palestinians, to help deal with the challenges in the relationship between Israel and the Palestinians.
This move also serves the Israelis, the Palestinians and our other partners in the region," said the senior US State Department official.
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