Palestinians, Israelis resume dialogue after Israel engagement
The announcements of Israel's annexation of the occupied West Bank have raised tension between the two peoples.
Here, a Palestinian protester speaks to Israeli soldiers during a demonstration in Beit Dajan, West Bank on November 13, 2020. REUTERS / Raneen Sawafta
Text by: RFI Follow
3 min
While the dialogue had been interrupted since last May when Benyamin Netanyahu promised an annexation of part of the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian government announced that it would reverse its position on Tuesday evening, November 17.
The Palestinian Authority claims to have obtained strong commitments from the Israeli authorities, and announces the resumption of broken ties: security but above all financial.
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With our correspondent in Jerusalem,
Guilhem Delteil
For the Palestinian leadership, by threatening
to annex part of the occupied West Bank
, Benjamin Netanyahu had withdrawn from the Oslo accords.
There was no longer any question then for them of
continuing a dialogue
with an Israeli government which "was
burying the peace process
", they accused.
The turnaround announced Tuesday evening November 17 is justified by an oral commitment, but also and above all in writing from Israel to respect the signed agreements.
Israel has reportedly sent a letter in which it reaffirms that these texts constitute "
the applicable legal framework
" between the two parties.
A "
victory
" believes the Palestinian Minister of Civil Affairs, for whom it is the first formal commitment of the Netanyahu era.
"
The plan of the century is no longer on the table,
" he said, referring
to the peace plan proposed by Donald Trump and rejected by the Palestinians
.
Palestinian Authority will be able to receive taxes levied by Israel
This should lead to the resumption of security cooperation.
But above all, it will allow the Palestinian Authority to collect taxes levied by Israel on its behalf.
This showdown had led to
a financial crisis
, added to
the economic crisis linked to the coronavirus pandemic
.
And the Authority could only pay part of the salaries of its civil servants.
The turnaround, however, was quickly condemned by the ruling Hamas in Gaza.
The Islamist movement believes that the President of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas "
ignores the decisions of the conference of secretaries general of the Palestinian factions
".
He denounces "
a stab in the back
", while negotiations for a reconciliation between the two Palestinian parties are underway in Cairo.
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