Report: PA Outlines Conditions for Supporting Saudi-Israel Peace Deal

According to a report by the BBC on Thursday, the Palestinian Authority has outlined a set of conditions for its support of a potential peace agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia. One of the primary demands put forth by the Palestinians is a cessation of all Israeli settlement expansion. Additionally, they seek the transfer of control over parts of Yehudah and Shomron known as Area C, which is currently under full Israeli jurisdiction, to their own governing authority.

In return for their endorsement of the peace deal, Saudi Arabia has expressed its willingness to reinstate the annual aid package of $200 million to the PA, which had been significantly reduced in 2016.

Furthermore, Ramallah has introduced another condition, urging the re-opening of the U.S. Consulate in East Yerushalayim. This diplomatic facility had been closed during the tenure of former President Donald Trump when the U.S. Embassy was relocated to Yerushalayim. The Palestinians also call for the resumption of negotiations with Israel, facilitated by U.S. mediation. The last round of such talks occurred in 2014 during John Kerry’s tenure as secretary of state.

A high-ranking Israeli official expressed optimism earlier this week, indicating that he believes these Palestinian demands can be addressed satisfactorily. He emphasized that resolving this issue has been a recurring topic in their discussions and asserted that achieving peace would demonstrate the government’s commitment to a resolution. He further claimed that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s approval would likely garner support from various members of his government, including those on the far-right such as Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir. These ministers had previously opposed even minor gestures toward the Palestinians when proposed to the Cabinet.

A Palestinian delegation made its way to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, where they met with a senior official from the American National Security Council. During their meeting, the parties engaged in discussions regarding the potential benefits that the Palestinian people would derive from the normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel. This marked the first time that a Palestinian delegation engaged with the Saudis on the normalization deal.