Israeli press reported June 15 that authorities intend to increase by 20,000 the number of work permits issued to West Bank Palestinians wishing to work inside Israel. Currently, some 100,000 Palestinians from the West Bank hold such permits.

On June 16, Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) Gen. Ghasan Alyan announced that following an assessment of the security situation, the minister of defense decided to increase by 2,000 the number of permits for Gaza Strip residents to work and do business in Israel. The total number of permits for Gaza residents to enter Israel for economic reasons will add up to 14,000. In his announcement he noted that all of the civil steps toward the Gaza Strip are conditioned on long-term security stability, and their expansion will be examined by assessing the situation. 

These decisions toe in line with the government’s policy of improving the economic situation of Palestinians in the West Bank and in Gaza, especially after a year of relative quiet on the Gaza border. But the timing of the decision is also related to the expected visit in Israel next month of US President Joe Biden.

In fact, Israel is preparing a package of gestures and economic relief for the Palestinians ahead of the visit. On the diplomatic level, the government can offer Biden little. The coalition agreement determines that the diplomatic status quo would be maintained and negotiations would not be held with the Palestinians. This leaves the civil and economic spheres.