Israeli Defence Minister (DM) Benny Gantz hosted Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas at his residence in Rosh Ha’ayin on Tuesday to discuss security and economic cooperation. The visit marked the first time a Palestinian leader held talks with a senior Israeli lawmaker in Israel since 2010.
A statement by Gantz’s office said that the talks focussed on “strengthening security cooperation, preserving security stability, and preventing terrorism and violence.” Furthermore, according to the Israeli Defence Ministry, Gantz told Abbas that Israel would continue with “confidence-building measures in civil and economic fields.”
Abbas’ advisor, Hussein al-Sheikh, who was part of the Palestinian delegation, said the leaders discussed creating a stable political environment so that Israel and the PA can restart peace talks. Al-Sheikh also noted that Abbas raised the issue of settler violence against Palestinians living in the West Bank.
In fact, alongside a surge in settler violence against Palestinians, there has also been a recent rise in stabbing attacks against Israelis.
This evening I met with PA President, Mahmoud Abbas. We discussed the implementation of economic and civilian measures, and emphasized the importance of deepening security coordination and preventing terror and violence - for the well-being of both Israelis and Palestinians.
— בני גנץ - Benny Gantz (@gantzbe) December 28, 2021
Gantz, meanwhile, said that the PA is the legitimate authority of the Palestinian territories and its position should be strengthened to thwart Hamas’ rise in the West Bank. Gantz had expressed similar sentiments when he visited Abbas in Ramallah in August. “If the Palestinian Authority is stronger, Hamas will be weaker. When the Palestinian Authority has more ability to enforce order, there will be more security, and our hand will be forced less,” he said at the time.
Following the war between Israel and Hamas in May, the fundamentalist group has been gaining greater popularity in the West Bank; simultaneously the PA’s approval ratings have declined. In a poll conducted in September, 45% of Palestinians view Hamas as the “most deserving” of leading Palestine, while only 19% had the same view of the Abbas government.
Against this backdrop, the Israeli government has taken numerous steps to limit the influence of Hamas in the West Bank. During Gantz’s meeting with Abbas in August, the DM announced a $155 million loan for the PA and even expressed his support for a two-state solution.
During the same month, Israel approved the construction of 1,000 Palestinian homes in Area C of the West Bank, announced its intention to issue 16,000 work permits for Palestinians working in the Israeli construction industry, and promised to introduce 4G technology to the West Bank.
Israel has also taken steps to ease its 14-year blockade of Gaza, including the extension of Gaza’s fishing zone to 15 nautical miles and the opening of the Kerem Shalom crossing to allow the import of construction material. In addition, it has approved a Qatari funding scheme to provide direct cash to around 100,000 Gazans.
Despite these steps, however, the Israeli cabinet remains divided over how to approach the Palestinian issue. While lawmakers like Gantz have expressed their support for a two-state solution and for taking measures to ease Palestinian hardship, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has repeatedly said he is opposed to the creation of a Palestinian state. Bennett has shown little interest in reviving the peace process and failed to mention the Palestinian issue during his speech at the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September.