The meeting between Israeli Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon and his Palestinian counterpart Shukri Bishara in Jerusalem on May 17 was friendly and warm. The two men met secretly, without announcing it in advance, and discussed a package of economic incentives for Palestinians that the Security Cabinet is slated to approve May 21, just before the arrival of US President Donald Trump to Israel on May 22.
Kahlon and Bishara's meeting was the direct continuation of talks in Brussels on May 4 between the US special envoy to the Middle East, Jason Greenblatt, Israel's Minister for Regional Cooperation Tzachi Hanegbi and Bishara. Upon returning to Israel, Hanegbi relayed messages to Kahlon about the economic crisis facing the Palestinians. This led directly to the meeting between the two finance ministers.
It was Kahlon's people who made sure that news of the secret meeting would make its way to the media upon its successful conclusion. What this means is that Kahlon, who heads a centrist party with obvious leanings to the right (Kahlon served in the past as Likud minister), believes that meeting with the Palestinian Finance Minister in a positive atmosphere and granting allowances and benefits to the Palestinian Authority would score him points among the Israeli public.
The meeting is yet another sign signaling a change in mood, which the new US president is bringing to the region.
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