The Palestinian leadership has reached understandings with President-elect Joe Biden’s administration, Fatah Deputy Chief Mahmoud al-Aloul has said, without giving further details.
Aloul told official radio that the understandings are related to the measures that must be taken on the political level and the future of relations with Israel.
“We will not rush to judge and talk about these understandings in light of the remaining risks from the current US administration,” he added, noting that the leadership is monitoring President Donald Trump’s decisions until he leaves the White House.
Aloul further stressed that the political and popular movements to confront attempts to liquidate the Palestinian cause will be maintained until the end of Trump’s term.
Media has reported on direct calls, through mediators, between President Mahmoud Abbas and Biden to open a new page and return to previous relations, in preparation to resume the stalled peace process.
According to the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (Kan), Abbas has sent several messages to Biden’s team, affirming his readiness to abide by three conditions that would allow the opening of a dialogue channel between him and the new administration in Washington.
Kan News Palestinian Affairs Correspondent Gal Berger said Abbas has asked Western officials to convey messages to Biden’s team, indicating that he is ready to halt Palestinian joining of international organizations, review Palestinian education curricula in response to accusations that they include “incitements” and reform the system of paying financial allocations to families of prisoners, wounded and fighters.
In response, the Palestinian Authority expects from Biden’s administration to reopen the Palestinian Liberation Organization office in Washington, resume financial support for the PA and its security services, refund the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), reopen the US consulate in Jerusalem and allow the US Agency for International Development to re-implement projects in Palestinian areas.
The PA announced last week it will renew its security and civil coordination with Israel, which was severed six months ago over Israel’s plans to apply sovereignty over parts of the West Bank and the Jordan Valley. The move has been put on hold since the UAE and Bahrain agreed to normalize ties with Israel.
Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh said on Monday that the relationship with Israel is based on international law and resolutions, stressing that the Palestinian people remain under occupation and that Israel “hasn’t respected many signed agreements.”
