Ever since helping to form a new government last June, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid made a point of distancing himself from Palestinian issues. As he explained at the time, the government was built around consensus and included rightwing elements.

Still, it was only at a briefing for political correspondents early this month [Jan. 2] that Lapid admitted that the current government is not expected to move the diplomatic process with the Palestinians forward, even after he replaces Naftali Bennett as prime minister in August 2023. He attributed this immobility to coalition agreements. At the same time, however, he also said that he will still try to convince his coalition partners to return to the negotiating table with the Palestinians.

But that is all theory. In practice, Lapid seems to be laying the groundwork for renewing negotiations with the Palestinians anyway. Last Sunday, for instance, he hosted the Palestinian Minister for Civil Affairs Hussein Al-Sheikh at his home in Tel Aviv. The meeting took place just a few weeks after Lapid met with the head of the Palestinian General Intelligence, Majed Faraj.

Both these top Palestinian officials are thought to be very close to Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas. They are even mentioned as potential candidates to replace him one day. By meeting with these two men, Lapid seems to be signaling who Israel prefers to take over from Abbas when he steps down.