Palestinians are expecting US President Joe Biden to call Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, in a first step toward normalizing the fragile ties between both countries.
An informed source told Asharq Al-Awsat that such a move would be considered a declaration of the return of relations to their normal level and a change in the US approach toward Palestine.
The relationship between the US and Palestine is currently limited to US State Department and security officials.
Since Biden became president, communications have been slowly developing between the two sides and were limited to Palestinian officials and US Deputy Assistant Secretary for Israel and Palestinian Affairs, Hady Amr.
Biden’s call with Abbas would mean restoring relations at all levels, but the source emphasized it does not mean that relationships will be restored quickly.
The former US administration cut all ties with the Palestinian Authority, suspended aid, closed the Palestinian Liberation Office (PLO) in Washington, and expelled the Palestinian representative after the leadership rejected Trump's “deal of the century.”
The Authority now depends on the current administration to restore relations and advance a new peace process in the region.
Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh asserted that Palestine wants to establish bilateral relations with the US that are not based on relations with Israel.
"We want the US administration to fulfill its pledges to reopen its consulate in East Jerusalem, reopen the PLO office in Washington, and resume aid to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and Jerusalem hospitals," he added.
Shtayyeh said Palestine is looking forward to a US decree considering the PLO an essential partner in the peace process, which means abolishing all hostile laws, including one naming it a terrorist organization.
The US administration is drawing up a plan on how to approach relations with the Authority, according to an internal draft memo.
The news first reported by “The National” said the plan was still in an early “working stage” but could eventually form the basis for rolling back parts of Trump’s approach that Palestinians denounced as biased in favor of Israel.
Reuters reported that since Biden took office, his aides have said they intend to repair relations with the Palestinians.
The administration pledged to resume hundreds of millions of dollars in economic and humanitarian assistance and work toward reopening the Palestinians’ diplomatic mission in Washington.
Biden’s aides have also made clear they want to re-establish the goal of a negotiated two-state solution as a priority in US policy on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. But they have moved cautiously with Israel’s upcoming elections, followed by Palestinian elections.
The draft memo said the US vision is “to advance freedom, security, and prosperity for both Israelis and Palestinians in the immediate term.”
The document was cited as saying $15 million in COVID-19 pandemic aid to the Palestinians could be announced by the end of March.
It is also reported to take a tougher stance on Israeli settlement activities and mentions efforts to obtain a Palestinian commitment to end payments to families of individuals imprisoned by Israel.
One source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the document was a preliminary draft subject to revision and any final version would require inter-agency review.
US Department spokeswoman Jalina Porter refused to comment on the memo during a daily briefing.
