The U.S is "very pleased" with the meeting between Defense Minister Benny Gantz and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, State Department Spokesperson Ned Price tweeted on Wednesday.
The defense chief hosted the Palestinian leader at his personal residence in the Israeli city of Rosh Haayin on Tuesday evening in what was the latter's first meeting with an Israeli official inside Israel since 2010.
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Defense Minister Benny Gantz and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas
(Photo: Avi Moalem, Reuters)
"We hope confidence-building measures discussed will accelerate momentum to further advance freedom, security, and prosperity for Palestinians and Israelis alike in 2022," Price added.
Both sides consider the meeting to be a success, with Abbas stressing the importance of keeping the security coordination with Israel strong in order to tackle illegal arms and destabilizing forces in the West Bank. Abbas also emphasized he won't allow tensions within the Palestinian people to simmer over into armed conflict against Israel.
However, he warned Israel of disturbing the status quo at holy sites, such as al-Aqsa mosque on top of Jerusalem's Temple Mount compound, fearing such a move could stir up popular unrest that even he could not quell.
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A Palestinian runs away from tear gas during clashes with Israeli security forces in front of the Dome of the Rock Mosque at the al-Aqsa Mosque compound
(Photo: AP)
Abbas also addressed the recent rise in settler violence against Palestinians and stated that he was troubled by the impression that nationalist Jewish crime was becoming organized.
The Palestinian leader also noted that Israel's expectation for the Palestinian Authority to pull its petition to the International Court of Justice, in which it claims the Jewish nation has committed war crimes were in the so-called "Occupied Territories", was not realistic as long as Israel does not make significant policy gestures.
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A Palestinian man counts stacks of banknotes at a currency exchange counter in the West Bank city of Ramallah
(Photo: AFP)
Following the meeting, the Defense Ministry announced a series of trust-building measures, including the addition of hundreds of entry permits for Palestinian businessmen as well as for Palestinian vehicles, additional VIP permits for dozens of PA officials, and the advancement of garnished tax payments to the authority to the tune of NIS 100 million.
In addition, Gantz agreed that Israel will officially recognize the status of some 6,000 Palestinian residents of the West Bank and 3,500 Gazans in the PA’s Population Registry, which is under Israeli control, allowing them freedom of movement within the Palestinian territories.
First published: 08:20, 12.30.21