Trying to woo US with election, Palestinians drop a hot potato in Biden’s lap
Title : Trying to woo US with election, Palestinians drop a hot potato in Biden’s lap
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It was widely interpreted as a gesture to the new US administration, which would likely have an easier time engaging with a Palestinian leadership that has more legitimacy at home after a decade and a half without an election.
But the White House has reacted to the initiative coolly, and with near-utter silence — differing drastically from the lead-up to the last time national elections were held in 2005-2006, when the Bush administration had been one of the initiative’s loudest cheerleaders.
In its first three weeks, the administration has paid little attention publicly to what is happening between Israel and the Palestinians. Biden has yet to call either Abbas or Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and has signaled a go-it-slow approach to the Middle East peace process, eschewing major initiatives so far.
But experts say that the administration’s seeming cold-shoulder toward Palestinian elections is also a product of the fact that the vote will force Washington to grapple right out of the gate with the likely strengthening of the Hamas terror group, which rules Gaza and is expected to make gains in the vote.
While the US supports elections in principal, putting Hamas in the picture could foil the administration’s work to reset relations with the PA, controlled by the more moderate Fatah.
A senior Palestinian official expressed a degree of frustration over the lackluster American response to the election announcement, which had partially been aimed at capitals abroad.
“We’re constantly being faulted for [not holding elections] by the international community, but then when we try and hold elections, suddenly we’re told the timing isn’t right,” said the official, on the condition of anonymity. READ MORE
Trying to woo US with election, Palestinians drop a hot potato in Biden’s lap
Trying to woo US with election, Palestinians drop a hot potato in Biden’s lap
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