RAMALLAH, West Bank — The so-called confidence-building steps recently announced by the Israeli government to strengthen the Palestinian Authority (PA) provoked mixed reactions among PA leaders. This follows a meeting in Ramallah Aug. 30 between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Security Minister Benny Gantz.
The Abbas-Gantz meeting sparked criticism and angry popular and factional reactions, especially as it neglected the political dimension, rather than focusing on the security and economic aspects. The meeting was preceded by repeated statements made by Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett that he will not participate in launching a political process with the PA and will not allow the establishment of a Palestinian state.
