Israel says no Jerusalem base for Saudi envoy to Palestinian Authority
Al JazeeraAug 02, 2023
The Facts
Officials from the Palestinian Authority (PA), including PA intelligence chief Majed Faraj and Secretary-General of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Hussein al-Sheikh, held talks in Riyadh with their Saudi counterparts on Wednesday, with the Palestinian representatives reportedly asking for a cash boost and more control of land in the West Bank.
The officials reportedly also asked for a "complete cessation" of Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank, the re-opening of the US consulate in Jerusalem — the diplomatic mission to the Palestinians — and the resumption of US-brokered negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians from where they stopped in 2014.
The Spin
Pro-Israel narrative
A normalization deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia would not only benefit the region as a whole but also the Palestinians. A good deal would satisfy all parties involved, and could potentially lay the groundwork for the future resumption of peace talks.
Pro-Palestine narrative
Ultimately, a deal between Israel, the US, Saudi Arabia, and the PA only benefits the leadership of those actors, as opposed to the group of people that this issue is centered around — the Palestinian people. Palestinian Pres. Mahmoud Abbas is deeply corrupt and unpopular, and he and his cronies are essentially asking that Riyadh pay them hush money. Saudi Arabia and the PA are selling the Palestinian people for cheap.
