Palestinians will likely make several demands to the Biden administration’s point person for Israeli-Palestinian affairs, Hadi Amr, scheduled to visit the region to meet officials from both sides.
Amr’s stopover is unique in that it is the first visit by a senior US official since the formation of the new Israeli government and also comes as the Palestinian Authority is going through a deep domestic political crisis over the killing of political activist Nizar Banat by security forces.
The deputy assistant secretary of state for Israeli-Palestinian affairs is expected to meet senior officials from the Israeli Foreign Ministry, Prime Minister’s Office, and Ministry of Defense, according to a report by Hebrew news website “Walla! NEWS”.
Meanwhile, in Ramallah, Amr will meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and other government officials.
According to Israeli officials who spoke to Walla! NEWS, one reason for the trip is to allow Amr to meet new Israeli officials and discuss the new government’s policies on the West Bank and Gaza.
Specifically, he is expected to raise the reconstruction of Gaza and the new UN mechanism to transfer a Qatari grant to Gaza.
Israeli officials also expect him to raise the Israeli military’s demolitions of homes in the West Bank, a practice the Biden administration recently criticized.
In Ramallah, Amr will likely discuss the internal political crisis as well as chances for advancing peace.
According to a report prepared by the Israeli Channel 12, the Palestinian Authority has prepared a list of “confidential” demands that it plans to present to the Biden administration before resuming US-sponsored talks with Israel.
These demands will probably include reopening some Palestinian institutions in east Jerusalem, restoring the previous status quo at al-Aqsa Mosque, and enhancing the status of the PA’s envoys.
Stopping home evictions of Arab Jerusalemites and releasing the fourth batch of Palestinian prisoners, according to an old agreement with Israel that has not been completed yet, will presumably also figure high on the list of the PA’s demands.
