Israeli Prime Minister (PM) Naftali Bennett and Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas on Friday called for improving cooperation and maintaining the signed agreements, referring to the Oslo Accords signed in the 1990s that call for a two-state solution to end the decades-long conflict. The talks were the first between Israeli and Palestinian leaders in five years.
According to a brief statement released by Lapid’s office, both leaders agreed to continue cooperation and ensure that there is “quiet and calm” in the region. Similarly, WAFA news agency reported that Abbas welcomed Lapid’s effort to increase cooperation and “stressed the importance of creating a political horizon [and] commitment to the signed agreements.”
Ex-PM Naftali Bennett, who remains opposed to a two-state solution, chose not to talk with Abbas for the 12 months he was in power. However, Lapid, who was Bennett’s coalition partner, has differed from his predecessor on the Palestinian issue and favours a two-state solution.
While serving as foreign minister in the previous coalition government, Lapid and Defence Minister Gantz took a series of measures to revitalise ties with the PA. In January, Lapid met separately with Palestinian leaders in the West Bank, including the PA’s intelligence chief. Analysts have said that Lapid’s meetings were an attempt to lay the groundwork for reviving negotiations, which were last held in 2014.
Israeli PM Yair Lapid spoke today w Abbas on the phone, a first since Bennett-Lapid govt took power. Abbas congratulated Lapid on top spot, Lapid extended best wishes for Eid.
— Neri Zilber (@NeriZilber) July 8, 2022
Also - Israeli President Herzog phoned Abbas today too. Busy day for basic/positive diplomacy in Is-Pal https://t.co/UFAKz5RFSM
Gantz, who also supports a two-state solution, met Abbas for the third time in a year last week and agreed to continue Israel-PA security cooperation. In December, Gantz hosted Abbas at his residence and promised to take more confidence-building measures. Four months earlier, in August, he visited Abbas in Ramallah announced a $155 million loan to the PA and even reaffirmed his support for a two-state solution.
Moreover, 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 in the West Bank.
However, despite these efforts, ties between Israel and the PA remain tense, especially regarding settler violence, Israeli raids in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, Palestinian attacks on Israelis, and the murder of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh.
Lapid’s efforts also come as Israel seeks to improve ties with its Arab neighbours and encourage more countries to join the Abraham Accords, under which the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco have normalised relations with Israel. “Israel reaches out to all the countries in the region and calls on them to build ties with us, to establish relations with us and to change history for the sake of our children,” Lapid said during a cabinet meeting on Sunday.
But as Biden officials seek to finalize a package of steps the administration plans to announce on the trip to strengthen the PA, it has found over the past week that doing so will be more difficult under Lapid than it was expected to be under Bennett, senior official said (3/X)
— Jacob Magid (@JacobMagid) July 7, 2022
He said that the visit of United States President Joe Biden to Israel next week represents an opportunity for Israel and Arab states to improve relations. Furthermore, Lapid stated that after completing his tour of Israel and Palestine, Biden would travel to Saudi Arabia from Jerusalem and carry the “message of peace and hope” from Israel.
Lapid also held talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and Jordanian King Abdullah II over the weekend and vowed to continue strategic relations.