Palestinian Authority awaits Biden’s visit to region
The Palestinian Authority has refrained from implementing the decision of the PLO to freeze its recognition of Israel ahead of US President Joe Biden’s visit to the region.
RAMALLAH, West Bank — US and Arab contacts have managed to prevent the Palestinian Authority (PA) from moving toward implementing some decisions made by the Palestinian Central Council (PCC) of the PLO regarding the relationship with Israel and the freezing of Israel’s recognition.
A source from the Fatah movement told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity that a Jordanian delegation headed by Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Ayman Safadi met with President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah on May 31 and delivered a letter from King Abdullah II reiterating the kingdom’s commitment to joint cooperation on Palestinian issues.
Also, the source added, there were unannounced Egyptian contacts followed by a call from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Abbas on May 31. This, he said, led to the suspension of the implementation of some decisions related to the PA’s relationship with Israel.
The source pointed out that the Arab and US contacts are aimed at giving US President Joe Biden a chance to raise all issues of concern to the Palestinians during his upcoming visit to the region. He added that a delegation from the US State Department is scheduled to arrive in the region ahead of Biden to arrange for his visit.
