In the video: Netanyahu alludes to the USA: "I reassure our friends - we were and will remain a democracy" (Walla system!)
A secret communication channel has been operating for more than a month between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office and the office of Palestinian Authority Chairman Abu Mazen - so said three sources familiar with the details of the conversations.
Netanyahu and Abu Mazen at their last meeting, at the funeral of Shimon Peres, 2016 (Photo: Government Press Office, Amos Ben Gershom)
why is it important
This is the first time that we have learned of high-level direct contacts between the Prime Minister's Office and the Palestinian President's Office since the establishment of the right-wing government.
The American government is informed about the activities of the secret channel, but it is not clear if all the heads of the coalition parties are aware of its existence, or the contents of the conversations that took place.
More in Walla!
The UN Security Council will announce: "deeply concerned" about the expansion of the settlements and the training of the outposts
To the full article
Behind the Scenes
In the weeks before the government was sworn in, the minister of civil affairs in the Palestinian Authority, Hussein al-Sheikh, sent a message to Netanyahu's office through the American administration, according to which despite the deep differences, the Palestinian Authority is ready to work with the new prime minister.
Al-Sheikh, who also serves as the secretary of the PLO Executive Committee and as Abu Mazen's number 2, delivered the message once more after the government was sworn in and reiterated the Palestinian Authority's desire to hold talks with the new government.
Netanyahu responded in the affirmative.
He appointed the National Security Adviser, Tzachi Hanegbi, to be responsible for the Palestinian file, and authorized him to conduct the talks that dealt with the first weeks of the government's existence in ongoing talks that focused on trying to prevent escalation.
The Negabi and El-Sheikh spoke several times on the phone and also met.
The last meeting between the two took place in the last few days and focused on the consolidation of the understandings between the parties, which were revealed in Vala!
and which led to the postponement of the vote in the UN Security Council.
An Israeli senior official said that although this is not a political negotiation with the Palestinian Authority, it is very important to have a direct communication channel to convey messages and resolve disputes and problems on the ground that will prevent escalation.
what are they saying
The National Security Adviser in the Prime Minister's Office, Tzachi Hanegbi, referred to the understandings with the Palestinian Authority today, during the gathering of the Presidents' Conference of the Jewish Organizations in the USA, which is being held in Jerusalem. He confirmed that recently there have been talks with the Palestinians about stopping unilateral measures from both sides.
"There have been discussions with the Americans and also with us about how to create a new atmosphere by stopping the unilateral measures that have been taken in recent months. We are ready for that," Hangabi said.
He added that he told the Palestinians that they must stop steps related to the legal proceedings against Israel at the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice in The Hague.
According to him, the Palestinians requested that Israel stop unilateral measures such as raids inside the Palestinian cities.
Hangabi stated that Israel made it clear to the Palestinians that it does not want to send IDF soldiers to Jenin and Nablus, because according to the agreements the Palestinian Authority is the one that must fight terrorism in its territory. He added that Israel is forced to do this because the Palestinians do not do it themselves.
"We told them that they need to retake control of the territory. We will be happy to assist. There is room for dialogue with the Palestinians and I hope it will start soon," Hangabi noted.
reminder
Yesterday it was revealed in Vala!
Because as part of the understandings reached between the parties, in return for the postponement of the vote in the Security Council, Israel undertook to suspend for a few months the approval of planning and additional construction in the settlements, to suspend for a few months the demolition of Palestinian homes in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, to suspend for a few months the eviction of Palestinians from their homes in Area C and to reduce the IDF raids in the Palestinian cities.
A source privy to the details of the understandings said that the United States has pledged to the Palestinians that Palestinian Authority Chairman Abu Mazen will be invited to a meeting with President Joe Biden at the White House next year in exchange for postponing the Security Council vote.
The Americans also committed to the Palestinians to submit an official request to Israel for the reopening of the American consulate in Jerusalem.
The Americans raised the issue in the past in talks with Israel, but never submitted an official request in a diplomatic letter.
Israel is expected to refuse the American request, but the move has symbolic importance for the Palestinians.
Also, Israel agreed to make some changes in the areas of taxation at the Allenby Bridge that will flow more than NIS 200 million annually to the Palestinian Authority.
The source stated that the Palestinians agreed to start and implement the security plan formulated by the American security coordinator, General Mike Fenzel, for the Palestinian Authority to retake Jenin and Nablus.
To date, the Palestinians have evaded the implementation of the plan.
The Palestinians agreed to start talks on renewing the security coordination with Israel that was frozen a few weeks ago.
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Political-political
Tags
Benjamin Netanyahu
Abu Mazen
Tzachi Hangabi
the Palestinian Authority