Why is Washington Trying Hard to Save Abbas' Authority?

A Hebrew blog has confirmed that Biden is deeply concerned about weakening the Palestinian Authority position in the West Bank, and is working to prevent Hamas from taking over the power there. 

An article by political analyst Yoni Ben Menachem noted that CIA Chief William Burns' recent meeting with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas came to discuss ways to strengthen the Authority by strengthening the Palestinian economy. 

Authority Collapse

The article published in the Hebrew blog Arab Experience noted that Peres visited Ramallah on August 11, 2021, at the invitation of Abbas, whom he has known for many years and who has an old friendship.

The U.S. official arrived in Ramallah by helicopter and met Abbas in his office, in the presence of Palestinian intelligence chief Majid Faraj and Palestinian Authority Minister of Civil Affairs Hussein al-Sheikh.

"Faraj and Sheikh are the powerful axis of power, closest to Abbas and responsible for coordinating the authority with Israel and America," the author said.

The authority cast a shadow over the meeting and did not publish any announcement at the end or a picture of it, possibly because of the sensitivity of the issues discussed at the meeting, according to the blog.

Senior Palestinian authority officials said the meeting addressed the stability of the security situation in the Palestinian authority after Hamas’s position on the Palestinian street was strengthened after the last Saif al-Quds war in April 2021.

The meeting also addressed the severe economic crisis experienced by the Palestinian Authority and popular anger in the street after the killing of activist Nizar Banat by the Palestinian Authority.

The Hebrew article noted that the Biden administration fears a security explosion in the West Bank amid severe economic difficulties and Hamas activity to overthrow the President of the Palestinian Authority."

"The Biden administration, like Israel, fears the collapse of power, but according to security sources in Israel, it is in control of the situation and has managed to contain popular anger after Nizar Banat’s death.

Senior Israeli officials say that "there is no immediate risk of the collapse of the Palestinian Authority, that it was in more difficult situations in 2020, and that Abbas is in good health."

"Despite Hamas and its Fatah rivals saying he is on his deathbed; the Biden administration wants to improve the president's position to neutralize Hamas' growing influence.

"Israeli intelligence and the CIA fear that Hamas is planning another escalation following Cairo talks on the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip and the exchange of prisoners with Israel," the article claimed.

 

Lighting the Area

The Hebrew blog claims that "Yahya al-Sinwar is looking for excuses for religious reasons to ignite the area, especially on the anniversary of the burning of the Al-Aqsa Mosque on August 21, 2021."

Hamas called for a "day of anger" along the lines of "return marches" on the Gaza Strip's border with Israel.

The Biden administration has found that the best way to strengthen the PA's position is to strengthen its economic position on the ground, reducing anger over it.

Security analyst Yoni Ben Menachem noted in his article that the CIA chief's visit to the West Bank is the second by a senior Biden administration official to the Palestinian territories.

In July 2021, U.S. State Department PA coordinator Hadi Amr visited the Authority and made a series of recommendations to his superiors on how to strengthen the PA financially.

According to Fatah sources, Burns and Abbas discussed a number of economic and security issues, and Abu Mazen complained about the decision of Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's government to expand construction in settlements.

Referring to Israel's agreement to build 1,000 Palestinian housing units in the West Bank, it deducted 50 million shekels from the taxes it collects for the Authority each month.

This is the amount paid by the Palestinian Authority as salaries to the families of martyrs, prisoners, wounded and their families. 

Abbas asked Burns to postpone Israel's withholding of these funds until the PA overcomes its economic crisis, and also asked for the Biden administration's support to change the Paris agreement.

The two sides also discussed the resumption of civilian aid to the Palestinian Authority, which was suspended by former President Donald Trump.

More than a month ago, Palestinian Hussein al-Sheikh handed over to the Biden administration a list of about 30 steps Israel must take to strengthen the PA's position.

On August 13, 2021, The Lebanese News newspaper quoted Fatah sources as saying that Burns and Abbas discussed the possibility of resuming the political process between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

The meeting suggested that Abbas and Bennet meet, and according to the report, Abbas agreed to the meeting on condition that it be held under U.S. auspices.

Political sources in Israel said that this issue is not on the agenda now, and that Israel is making a constructive effort on the Biden government's request to help improve the pa's economic situation.

According to the author, "Israel is trying to show that it is serious about its intentions ahead of the annual White House meeting between Biden and Bennet in September 2021.

 

Authority in Danger

Analyst Ben Menachem noted that Burns also discussed with Abbas ways to strengthen and strengthen Palestinian security services in the West Bank and strengthen the link between the CIA and Palestinian security forces necessary to keep Abbas in power.

"The Biden administration believes that Palestinian intelligence chief Majid Faraj is a positive figure following in Abbas's footsteps, and therefore must be strengthened," he said.

"Faraj needs to be strengthened within Fatah itself and within the PA ,facing the powerful figure Jibril Rajoub, whom Israel and America do not accept as Abbas' potential successor," the article said.

"Abbas' continued rule is in Israeli, American and Arab interests, and the fear of Hamas coming to power is great," analyst Ben Menachem said on his blog.

"Burns' visit to Ramallah is therefore of great importance, and a lot of things depend on what happens in the Gaza Strip."

"Is Hamas moving towards calm or escalation?" he asked. "All of this also affects the security situation in the West Bank.