Scientists say animals have an internal clock that triggers a series of chemical reactions for them when it is time to wake up from a long hibernation. This might be the most appropriate metaphor for what is happening with the Palestinian leadership in recent days.

Once the electoral victory of Joe Biden as the next US president became clear, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and his closest wing (led by intelligence chief Majed Faraj and Civil Affairs Minister Hussein Sheikh) went into action. It began with Hussein Sheikh announcing Nov. 17 that Palestinians will return to the status quo with the Israelis and renew security coordination. This was not a one-off statement, and two days later Sheik was holding a public meeting with his Israeli army counterpart, the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories Kamil Abu Rukun. 

The main goal of the renewal of relations with the Israelis after a six-month hibernation was financial. Palestinians wanted to regularly receive the revenue of tax and customs money that Israel collects on their behalf.

These moves to come out of hibernation were followed by the return of the Palestinian ambassadors to the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. The Palestinian ambassadors were recalled after both the UAE and Bahrain announced they would normalize relations with Israel. The Palestinian Maan News agency simply reported that their return was carried out after Palestinian officials had “completed their consultations” with the envoys.