Have the Palestinians blocked US Embassy move to Jerusalem?

The Palestinian Authority can breathe again, at least until US President Donald Trump’s next shoot-from-the-hip maneuver. According to the press briefing by White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer on Jan. 25, the relocation of the US Embassy to Jerusalem has been halted for now.

After Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas understood that Trump was determined to follow through on his campaign promise to relocate the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, his office was hit by a barrage of urgent phone calls. PLO Steering and Monitoring Committee Chairman Saeb Erekat, Abbas’ closest adviser, pressured Abbas to adopt an uncompromising stance. Erekat felt that Abbas should threaten that if the embassy is relocated to Jerusalem, the PA would make a declaration abolishing its recognition of Israel and even demand that Arab countries expel their American ambassadors in protest.

In contrast, Husam Zomlot, who is slated to be appointed Palestinian ambassador to Washington and is considered an expert on American affairs, advised Abbas to focus on convincing Trump not to relocate the embassy and to rely on his brain, not his emotions.

Ultimately the decision was made to give preference to the diplomatic approach, evidently considering that it’s not a good idea to anger the unpredictable Trump, especially at the beginning of his term of office. Erekat was sent to Moscow. Abbas met with Jordan's King Abdullah and spoke over the phone with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. The two were asked to send Trump a clear message: that the Palestinians are ready, able and willing to open direct negotiations with Israel to resolve the conflict under the American umbrella and the new administration’s sponsorship. However, such a dramatic move as the relocation of the embassy would kill any chance of resuscitating the diplomatic process.