BICOM

A report in Haaretz over the weekend claims that the US is asking Israel to adopt measures to help improve the lives of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly told his security cabinet last week when discussing a new settlement policy that the Trump administration is asking Israel to carry out a series of goodwill gestures toward the Palestinians that would have an immediate effect on their economic situation.

Netanyahu met yesterday with IDF Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, Maj. Gen. Yoav Mordechai, in an attempt to put together the package of goodwill gestures and other steps.

One option reportedly being considered is granting permission for the Palestinians to build in Area C which covers approximately 60 per cent of the West Bank, and was designated under complete Israeli civil and security control in the 1995 Oslo Accords. Until now it has been nearly impossible for Palestinians to obtain building permits in this area.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the source told Haaretz that Netanyahu reiterated to his security cabinet that US President Donald Trump is determined to advance the Israeli-Palestinian issue and for the two parties to reach an agreement. Trump’s international envoy, Jason Greenblatt, attended the Arab League summit last week and held talks with Abbas and the foreign ministers of Jordan, Egypt and Qatar.

According to a Gulf based newspaper, the Trump administration is interested in initiating a peace conference in September and that contacts are already under way among Israelis and Palestinians for such a conference. It further claims that this issue will be discussed by Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who are meeting today in Washington.

Also, last week the Jerusalem Post announced that members of the Trump administration were exploring the option of hosting a landmark conference over the summer that would bring Gulf Arab leaders, the Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Israel’s Prime Minister onto the same stage for the first time.