WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Biden administration is working on a plan to restore US ties with the Palestinians, who nearly collapsed under former President Donald Trump, according to an internal draft note.
Two people familiar with the State Department’s document, first reported by UAE-based newspaper The National, said it was still in its early “ work phase, ” but could eventually be the groundwork. forms for reversing parts of Trump’s approach that denounced Palestinians as severely biased in favor of Israel.
Since President Joe Biden took office on Jan. 20, his aides have said they intend to restore relations with the Palestinians. The government has pledged to resume hundreds of millions of dollars in economic and humanitarian aid and work to reopen the Palestinians’ diplomatic mission in Washington.
Biden’s aides have also made it clear that they want to re-establish the goal of a negotiated two-state solution as a priority in US policy on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. But they have been cautious as the March 23 elections looming in Israel, followed by Palestinian elections scheduled for the coming months.
Part of the concept memo quoted by The National said the US vision is “to promote short-term freedom, security and prosperity for both Israelis and Palestinians.”
The document said that $ 15 million in COVID-19 pandemic aid to the Palestinians could be announced in late March. It is also reported to be taking a tougher stance on the activities of Israeli settlements, citing efforts “to obtain a Palestinian pledge to stop payments to persons imprisoned (by Israel) for terrorist acts.”
One source, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the document was a preliminary draft that could be revised and that any final version would require review by several agencies.
“We have no comment on that particular memo,” US State Department spokeswoman Jalina Porter told reporters during a daily briefing.
Reporting by Matt Spetalnick in Washington, additional reporting by Rami Ayyub in Tel Aviv; edited by Grant McCool