Abbas-Gantz meeting is among those rare talks in the occupied lands that occurred for the second time this year. The two discussed security and financial issues while Israel stressed on no decision to start peace process.
In a far disputed visit with Gantz, Palestinian Authority chief met with Israeli Defense Minister. Defense ministry of Israel stated in a statement yesterday that the two sides addressed defense and civic concerns during the talks. Abbas-Gantz meeting took place at the latter’s residence in Rosh Ha’ayin, a central region in Israel.
The Defense ministry statement explains that Gantz informed PA president that he planned to pursue steps to enhance trust in the economic and civilian spheres. The two sides discussed these issues in a former visit month earlier.
It was in August when Abbas hosted the Israeli defense minister in the Palestinian Authority’s central office in Ramallah. That was considered an unprecedented high-level conference between two Israeli and Palestinian officials.
Following the negotiations, Israeli PM stated that the talks accounted for no peace process between the two sides. Bennett’s remarks indicated that Tel Aviv sees the Palestinian Authority as a device to reinforce its control over the lands.
Israel’s defense minister declared “confidence-building measures” with the Palestinian Authority today. The latter received a $32 million in tax revenue on Israel collected. Besides, Tel Aviv provided the PA with 600 more licenses permitting Palestinian merchants to enter Israeli soils.
on the other side, Palestinian Civil Affairs Minister expressed the Palestinian views regarding the recent meeting. Al Sheikh posted a tweet in which he explained that Abbas-Gantz meeting “dealt with the significance of developing a political vision that leads to a political settlement in accordance with international agreements.” The most recent round of peace talks ended in failure seven years ago.
Abbas-Gantz Meeting; Repetition of a Failed Practice
“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,” Gantz posted in a tweet, hours after the meeting. Gantz, nevertheless, missed to explain which security measure are going to secure the interests for Palestinian citizens in the occupied lands.
The state of Israel, in fact, poses the main risks and security hazards for Palestinian citizens. The expansion of illegal settlements in the West Banks along with obligatory eviction of the people in Sheikh Jarrah, who lived there for centuries, are the most recent examples of Israeli practice putting the well-being of Palestinians at stake.
The new rounds of meetings between the two sides occurred under the provision, or pressure, of American government. Failed during his tenure at the Obama administration in 2014, Biden means to see the disputes settled in curious ways. Not surprisingly, these approaches may lead to more escalation, as they did during the Obama era.
Abbas-Gantz Meeting, by the way, has latent interests for the still-fresh administration in Israel. Bennett means to control the tensions between the two sides as a way to silently proceed with his expansion programs.
It was only days ago that the Israeli PM announced his decision to double the settlement in the Golan Heights. The multi-million-dollar project aims to secure the Israeli grip on the lands it seized for Syria half a century ago.
Initiatives like Abbas-Gantz Meeting evades the concentrations from Israeli plans. Besides, it facilitates the way for Tel Aviv through deflating the wrath in the residents of the lands. Israel plans to annex their lands, but there is no plan for a peace process as this might interfere with their future plans.
