BICOM

Two separate media reports today claim contrasting diplomatic developments. A Jordanian report suggested that top Israeli and Palestinian Authority (PA) leaders met, while a Palestinian report indicates that the PA will turn to international bodies to demand Israel’s West Bank withdrawal.

The Jordanian newspaper Al-Ghad says that senior Israeli and Palestinian officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Mahmoud Abbas, met secretly in Amman prior to the announcement this week of an open-ended Gaza ceasefire. The PA is expected to play a major role in facilitating funds for Gaza’s reconstruction and possibly in administering the Rafah border crossing.

During the past week, Netanyahu has indicated that he views Abbas as a potential partner as part of what he has termed a new “diplomatic horizon” for the region. However, Netanyahu’s office reportedly denied that the meeting in Amman took place. Netanyahu did however discuss the Gaza ceasefire agreement yesterday during a security cabinet meeting.

Meanwhile, a report by the Palestinian Ma’an news agency quotes senior Fatah official Nabil Shaath, who said that the PA is preparing to ask international bodies to demand that Israel withdraw from the West Bank to facilitate the creation of a Palestinian state. Shaath apparently said that the PA will turn to the United Nations Security Council on September 15 to demand they set a deadline for Israel to withdraw to the pre-1967 borders. If this request is rejected, then the PA will apparently open a case against Israel at the International Criminal Court (ICC). It is suggested that the Arab League will meet in Cairo next month to consider providing the PA with support over the initiative.

Israel and the United States have long discouraged the PA from turning to international bodies, especially the ICC, arguing that unilateral action will damage the chances of successful bilateral talks to reach a peace agreement. In addition, it has been suggested that by turning to the ICC, the PA will pave the way for investigations into Palestinian infractions.