Biden-backed Palestinian Authority giving payouts for attacks against Israelis

By richardbrown // 2024-04-23

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The Palestinian Authority (PA) government in the West Bank has announced its intention to allocate bonus payments to security forces involved in attacks on Israeli citizens and military targets. This decision came shortly after President Joe Biden's Department of State expressed support for the newly formed West Bank government, expressing readiness to collaborate with the PA "to implement credible reforms." On April 4, the Palestinian General Intelligence Service disbursed grants to 36 families whose members were killed or detained while engaging in activities against Israelis. This announcement from the PA poses a challenge to the Biden administration's efforts to legitimize the West Bank government as the authoritative body representing a prospective Palestinian state in potential peace negotiations. (Related: Spain to officially recognize Palestinian state, calls on Western powers to do same.) State Department officials have stressed the need for reform within the PA and its assumption of governance in the Gaza Strip after the conclusion of Israel's military operations against Hamas.

Trump halted American taxpayer funding of PA, but Biden reversed it

Former President Donald Trump halted the American taxpayer funding of the PA, a move later reversed by the Biden administration. Despite these diplomatic efforts, West Bank Palestinian officials have refrained from denouncing the October 7 Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel. Furthermore, some members of the newly formed PA have openly endorsed continued acts of terrorism against the Jewish state, complicating the prospects for peaceful resolution in the region. Last December, the PA announced that it was prepared to reassume full control of the Gaza Strip once the conflict between Israel and Hamas concludes. Additionally, they are open to conducting the first national elections since 2006 as part of a broader long-term peace agreement. Ahmad Majdalani, a senior member of the Executive Committee of the Palestinian Liberation Organization, conveyed to Newsweek that the PA would accept the Biden administration's proposal for the reunification of Gaza and the West Bank under its governance. However, this acceptance is contingent upon international support for Gaza's reconstruction and pressure on Israel to agree to a two-state solution. Majdalani emphasized the PA's readiness for a reform-oriented political agenda, including free and democratic general elections. Regarding governance, Majdalani indicated that the PA could assume control of Gaza once the current conflict subsides, followed by a transitional period of one to two years before holding elections. These statements marked the PA's first substantive response to the White House's vision for post-conflict Gaza. However, potential disagreements between the PA and Israel, particularly regarding security and governance in Gaza, present significant obstacles to the proposed peace efforts. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has prioritized demilitarizing Gaza post-conflict while expressing concerns about security and maintaining operational freedom in the territory. The PA opposes interim arrangements where Israel retains control, advocating for logistics support from Egypt and Jordan instead. Additionally, broader regional issues, such as Iran's support for groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, must be addressed for any peace initiative to succeed. Despite the challenges, the Biden administration views this proposed path to peace as the most viable option, recognizing its complexities but acknowledging the absence of alternative solutions. Watch this report saying the Israel-Gaza war may bring the Palestinian State. This video is from the High Hopes channel on Brighteon.com.

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Trump halted American taxpayer funding of PA, but Biden reversed it

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