Israel proposes Palestinian Authority unofficially operate Rafah crossing

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Axios

15 mins ago


Israel proposed the Palestinian Authority send representatives to the Rafah crossing last week to take part in operating it, though not in an official capacity, four senior American, Israeli and Palestinian officials told Axios.

Why it matters: The proposal is the first time since Hamas' October 7th attack that Israel has agreed to discuss any involvement by the Palestinian Authority in the governance of the Gaza Strip.

State of play: The Israeli proposal came following the Rafah crossing's closure after Israeli forces captured its Palestinian side last Monday.

Since the closure, Egypt has suspended the transfer of aid trucks through the Kerem Shalom crossing between Israel and Gaza. Egypt said it would resume allowing trucks to pass upon the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Rafah crossing.

The halting of aid trucks has resulted in a dramatic decrease in the amount of aid entering Gaza and further deterioration of the humanitarian crisis, especially in southern Gaza.

Israel's Shin Bet Director Ronen Bar told his Egyptian counterpart Abbas Kamel that Israel wants to reopen the Rafah crossing, but that Hamas returning to control the area is unacceptable, a source with knowledge of the call told Axios.

Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant told Secretary of State Tony Blinken on Sunday that Israel is open to many solutions for the Rafah crossing except for a return of Hamas, an Israeli official said.

Behind the scenes: Senior Israeli officials told Axios that it planned to try and bring in Palestinian elements unconnected to Hamas to manage the site within a few days of taking it over.

Last week, Bar and other Israeli officials proposed that Palestinian Authority personnel be integrated into operations for the Rafah crossing.

One of Israel's conditions was that personnel sent to the crossing would not act as members of the Palestinian Authority, but be defined as a local aid committee, senior Israeli, American and Palestinian officials told Axios.

Senior U.S. officials said that the Israeli condition infuriated Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and his advisers, who made it clear to the U.S. and Israel that they would not agree to operate in the Rafah crossing "undercover."

Read more: https://www.axios.com/2024/05/13/israel-palestinian-authority-rafah-crossing

[sanatanadharma]

1. We want your help but without official recognition of your status

"Israel proposed the Palestinian Authority send representatives to the Rafah crossing last week to take part in operating it, though not in an official capacity, four senior American, Israeli and Palestinian officials told Axios." (My bold)

"... infuriated Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and his advisers, who made it clear to the U.S. and Israel that they would not agree to operate in the Rafah crossing "undercover."

Why should they agree to take the karmic heat and blame for problems created by a competing Palestinian authority?

[Hieronymus Phact]

7. Because...

Leaders step up for their people. That's What leadership is all about. Drop the ego, and do what's needed for your people.

[Traurigkeit]

2. Benjamin Netanyahu reason to keep backing HAMAS since the late 1990s

keep the open air prisons of palestinians separate so the Two State proposal would not be viable.

Bibi is such a scumbag. Hates Israelis and Palesinians equally

[former9thward]

3. There have been five other Israeli PMs since Netanyahu's first term.

Did they all back Hamas so a two-state solution would not be viable?

[Traurigkeit]

5. Bibi has the cash flow. don't need to be PM to keep the prisons spilt

[IronLionZion]

6. They all chose disengagement and isolationism for Gaza, per Ariel Sharon's plan

The resulting vacuum and fighting between factions resulted in Hamas controlling Gaza.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israeli_disengagement_from_Gaza#Fatah%E2%80%93Hamas_conflict

[LeftInTX]

4. PA is afraid Hamas will kill them.

A senior U.S. official said Palestinian Authority officials do not want to send workers to the Rafah crossing, only for it to be attacked by Hamas and they be killed.

The setup sounds hinky to me.
Hamas is still in power in Gaza
PA would be doing this "unofficially".
It doesn't seem like it's much of a concession.
I would probably back off if I were the PA.

[Martin68]

8. Sounds like a bullshit "unofficial" proposal.