Palestinians say U.S. mediations underway for resumption of security coordination

Minister for social development Ahmad Majdalani says Palestinians demand assurances before reversing decisions including measures providing hope for future political settlement

Einav Halabi|
Palestinian minister for social development Ahmad Majdalani on Wednesday said that the American teams have begun mediating between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
  • Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter

  • The talks seek to bring an end to the escalation of violence in Jerusalem and the West Bank and follow the suspension of coordination between Palestinian security services and the IDF.
    2 View gallery
    מזכיר המדינה של ארה"ב אנתוני בלינקן עם אבו מאזן ב רמאללה
    מזכיר המדינה של ארה"ב אנתוני בלינקן עם אבו מאזן ב רמאללה
    Mahmoud Abbas, Antony Blinken, Benjamin Netanyahu
    The PA announced security coordination was stopped last week, after an IDF raid in
    Jenin, targeting Islamic Jihad militiamen and killing 10 of them.
    Over the weekend, two terror attacks against Jews in Jerusalem resulted in the killing of seven and injuries to at least five others.
    Initially, the teams will meet with each side separately, Majdalani said adding that there is no direct contact between the sides.
    "The American mediators are working to identify the core issues connected to Israel's one-sided moves," the minister said.
    Among other things, the Palestinians want to discuss expulsions of Palestinians and the withholding by Israel of taxes collected for the PA.
    Israel had said that it would not deliver the funds to the PA while it insisted on paying stipends to convicted terrorists and their families. The Netanyahu government also said it was diverting funds from the withheld taxes to support the families of victims of terror.
    2 View gallery
    מזכיר המדינה של ארה"ב אנתוני בלינקן עם אבו מאזן ב רמאללה
    מזכיר המדינה של ארה"ב אנתוני בלינקן עם אבו מאזן ב רמאללה
    Antony Blinken, Mahmoud Abbas
    (Photo: Reuters )
    Majdalani said the steps decided on by the PA including suspending of security cooperation, would not be reversed without proper assurances. He also said there must be some change that would provide hope for a future political settlement.
    Comments
    The commenter agrees to the privacy policy of Ynet News and agrees not to submit comments that violate the terms of use, including incitement, libel and expressions that exceed the accepted norms of freedom of speech.
    ""