Daily Political Update, Wednesday 24 April 2019

General Situation

PA insists on arbitration to resolve the crisis over the withheld tax revenues: senior PA officials reiterated the PA’s position offering arbitration and or effective third party mediation. The PA officials said that should Israel agree to arbitration and or effective mediation, the PA will accept receiving the withheld tax revenues while deferring the remainder amount of deducted revenues NIS 42 million to the outcome of arbitration. The PA officials said this way both sides will have a face saving solution to the current financial crisis. The senior PA officials said that the PA Minister of Finance will make this offer at the AHLC meeting on 30 April. Senior PA officials said that both France and the UK have been working separately and quietly to convince Israel to accept this arrangement.  PA officials said that the financial situation is critical and will sharply deteriorate in / around the month of July. The officials said that the PA will explore the possibility of securing governmental loans from non-Arab countries in order to preserve a level of stability. The officials said that should the Arab countries fail to provide the safety net as promised, the PA will seek foreign financial net in the form of loans.

Fatah will send envoys to Russia and China: Senior Fatah officials said that in line with the Palestinian leadership plan to confront the US deal of the century, senior Fatah officials will visit Russia and China next week. The officials will deliver letters from President Abbas warning against the consequences of the US deal of the century, possible Israeli move to annex West Bank settlements, and the dire PA / PLO financial situation.

PA officials dismiss rumors on President Abbas health: senior PA officials dismissed circulating rumors that President Abbas’s health deteriorated. The officials said that President Abbas is performing routine medical checkups and will return to Ramallah Saturday. 

Political dynamics / developments

Hamas attempts to create a national coalition against the century deal: Fatah officials said that Hamas has offered a number of factions in Gaza to build a coalitionto confront the anticipated US deal of the century. According to the officials, Hamas has offered the PFLP and DFLP as well as other smaller factions to join a broad coalition led by Hamas that would work to confront the anticipated US deal of the century. The Fatah officials said that this attempt by Hamas is yet another evidence that Hamas seeks to create an alternative body to the PLO. The Fatah officials dismissed Hamas’s intent as tedious and noted that only the PLO is the legitimate representative of the Palestinian people.

Political statements

PM urges Norway to intervene on withheld tax revenues: PM Shtayya urged Norway to pressure Israel to release in full the Palestinian tax revenues, reiterating that the decision to deduct from the tax revenues is illegal and violates signed agreement.  PM Shtayya met with the representative of Norway Helda Haraldstad where they discussed the latest political developments and the donors’ conference scheduled to be held later this month in Brussels.

US actions worse than the century deal: PM Shtayya told US Senator Ron Wyden that the actions and decisions of the US administration including cutting aid to UNRWA, moving the embassy to Jerusalem, and recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel are worse than the text of the so-called “Deal of the Century.”  Shtayya said that “annexing parts of the West Bank under the so-called settlement blocs destroys the two-state solution and eliminates any chance of establishing an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders.” 

Other developments/ Security incidents

Condemning the Israeli right wing tours of al Aqsa Mosque. The Islamic Waqf department in Jerusalem released a statement harshly condemning the Israeli right wing tours of al Aqsa Mosque. Hundreds of Israeli right wing activists toured the site during the past few days celebrating the Jewish Passover holiday. The Waqf department indicated in its statement that those “raids” are rejected and maintained that al Aqsa Mosque is a sole property of all Muslims and stressed that its religious status will not be changed by the right wing practices. In addition, PA sources reported that the head of Aqsa Islamic museum Arafat Amre who was detained yesterday morning, was served with an expulsion order for 15 days and a financial fine of NIS 10,000. Reportedly, Amre scuffled with Israeli police during a tour of Israeli right wing activists yesterday morning.

IDF destroyed home of assailant in al Zawya village/ Salfit: Large IDF force made their way into the village of al Zawya in the northern West Bank and destroyed the house of Omar Abu Layla. The IDF force entered the village at around 1030pm last night. Skirmishes erupted between youth and the IDF soldiers who fired teargas and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd. PA officials said that the IDF planted explosive devices inside the apartment and blew it up at around 6am this morning. The PA officials said that at least 11 youth were injured by rubber bullets while others suffered from teargas inhalation. Abu Layla was killed by the IDF in March following an attack he perpetrated in which two Israeli settlers were killed. The IDF force withdrew from the village short while ago after completely destroying the apartment belonging to the family of Omar Abu Layla.

IDF force escorts hundreds of settlers into Nablus/ skirmishes reported: IDF forces escorted large numbers of Israeli settlers who entered into Nablus and gathered at Joseph Tomb. PA officials said that scores of youth clashed with the IDF. At least 21 youth were hurt during the clashes as they were hit by rubber bullets and teargas.