Israel is trying to reduce the expected violence during the month of Ramadan, according to senior political officials in Jerusalem, this is the reason Prime Minister Netanyahu agreed to the American settlement deal.
To this must be added Israel’s dependence on the US in everything related to the Iranian danger and Prime Minister Netanyahu’s desire to go to Washington soon for a meeting with President Biden.
The UN Security Council discussed the issue last night and issued a presidential statement in which it was emphasized that the 15 member states of the council are concerned about the Israeli government’s decision to promote the planning and construction of ten thousand new housing units in the settlements and to approve unauthorized outposts in the West Bank.
The statement said that further construction and expansion of settlements would jeopardize the two-state solution based on 67 lines.
The statement did not condemn Palestinian terrorism and the Palestinian Authority’s incitement, but only dealt with general statements against terrorism.
This is a rare statement that has not been published in the last nine years and it was supported by all 15 member states of the Security Council.
The Biden administration exerted heavy pressure on the Israeli government and the Palestinian Authority, the administration wanted to avoid vetoing the Security Council resolution, it feared that vetoing would encourage escalation, the administration is very concerned and we should remember the statement of CIA chief William Burns about two weeks ago in which he warned of an outbreak of a third intifada in Judea and Samaria.
The Prime Minister’s Office responded to the understandings with the Palestinians that led to the postponement of the vote at the United Nations in a statement it published stating that Israel informed the US that in the coming months it would not approve new settlements beyond the nine already approved, Israel did not commit to stopping the demolition of the illegal buildings in Area C.
Israel is trying to gain time in exchange for the postponement of the vote in the Security Council in view of the position of the Biden administration, as part of the compromise, Israel undertook to suspend for several months the demolition of Palestinian homes in Judea and Samaria and East Jerusalem.
PA chairman Abu Mazen received a promise that he will be invited, next year, to the White House for a meeting with President Biden, who has avoided inviting him there since he assumed the position of president.
The US also assured the Palestinians that it would submit a formal request to Israel to reopen the US consulate in Jerusalem.
Israel also agreed, as part of the compromise, to make some changes in the areas of taxation at the Allenby Bridge that will flow more than NIS 200 million to the Palestinian Authority every year.
The compromise reached is considered a diplomatic achievement of the Biden administration, according to American sources, the Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, was also in on the deal.
Prime Minister Netanyahu office severely criticized the Security Council’s statement that ignored the fact that the Palestinian Authority subsidizes terrorism and pays money to the terrorists’ families, stating that the statement should not have been made and the US should not have joined it.
Israel is taking a break of several months from the settlement issue, something that will also help the Prime Minister maintain the unity of his coalition.
This is a temporary move designed to try and achieve temporary peace, however, those who think that this will lead to an end
of Palestinian terrorism are wrong, Palestinian incitement is increasing towards the month of Ramadan, it will lead to attacks and Israel will have to defend itself.
The PA will have to renew the security coordination with Israel that it has stopped and implement General Mike Fenzel’s security plan for the war against terrorism in northern Judea and Samaria.
These are big challenges for the weak PA and it is doubtful that Abu Mazen will meet them, he will try to find a way to avoid them.
