The biannual conference of nations that contribute to the Palestinian Authority (PA) convened in Oslo, Norway, Nov. 16-18. Representing Israel was Minister for Regional Cooperation Issawi Frej, who has made civilian and economic aid to the Palestinians a major focus of his mission. Frej met in Oslo with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh and Palestinian Finance Minister Shukri Bishara.

These meetings represent another significant change in direction taken by the current government, especially as compared to the previous government. Frej brought a new Israeli attitude to the conference of donor nations by calling for an increase in donations and support to the PA. This is important particularly since the PA is having bigger cash flow problems than usual.

In a conversation with Al-Monitor, Frej said it should be obvious that all his talks and discussions have diplomatic significance as well. This even came up in his meetings with Shtayyeh, but it was not the main focus of their talks. “Our goal was to create the kind of atmosphere appropriate to the stage in which we can make progress and resume negotiations, even if that is not possible at the moment,” he noted.

Frej was referring to the guiding principles of the current coalition, of which his party Meretz is a member. As a left-wing party, Meretz supports a two-state solution. However, the government also includes hawkish right-wing parties like Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s Yamina and the New Hope party of Gideon Saar, both of whom oppose the creation of a Palestinian state. The guiding principles of the current government determines that when it comes to dealing with fundamental issues of debate between the parties, such as the Palestinian issue, the status quo will be maintained. No steps will be taken in any direction with regard to it. Nevertheless, Bennett did agree to the position of Meretz, which is shared by his largest coalition partner Yesh Atid, that economic aid to the Palestinians should be increased.