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Israel-Palestine-Jordan
In first public contact in years, senior Palestinian, US officials share call
2021-02-02
[IsraelTimes] Paleostinians have boycotted Washington since 2017, although some informal contacts have remained in place; senior PA official says two sides discussed bilateral relations.
"and Boodle...but mostly Boodle"
Paleostinian Authority Civil Affairs Commission chairman Hussein al-Sheikh said in a statement that said he had spoken to US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Israeli and Paleostinian Affairs Hady Amr.
In between stints at the State department and DoD during the last three Democratic presidencies — because clearly only half the country deserves the wonderfulness that is himself — Mr. Amr has kept busy with an eponymous consulting group and fellowships at a variety of prestigious think tanks and such.
Al-Sheikh is one of PA President the ineffectual Mahmoud Abbas
...aka Abu Mazen, a graduate of the prestigious unaccredited Patrice Lumumba University in Moscow with a doctorate in Holocaust Denial. While no Yasser Arafat, he has his own brand of evil, just a little more lowercase....
’s most trusted aides. The Fatah official is in charge of Ramallah’s coordination with Israel.

In addition to al-Sheikh, PA Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh also spoke with Amr, according to Paleostinian National Public Radio.

The State Department did not release an official statement on the matter.

However,
by candlelight every wench is handsome...
an official in the department told to The Times of Israel that Amr "is making a range of introductory calls with the government of Israel and Paleostinian Authority counterparts as he assumes his new duties."

Amr, who has served in several mid-level government posts over the past two decades, shares the Israeli-Paleostinian portfolio with Deputy Assistant Secretary Daniel Benaim.
Also leaving a bunch of think tank fellowships, plus a part time faculty spot at NYU, to return to serving a Democrat president in varying capacities starting with speechwriting and Middle East policy wonk..
When Americans headed to the polls last November, Paleostinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh publicly hoped for a Biden victory, saying that should Trump win: "God help us."

Even after the Jerusalem recognition though, a select few PA officials, including Intelligence Services chief Majed Faraj, were believed to have been in periodic contact with Washington, which showed interest in maintaining Israeli-Paleostinian security ties, even as US-PA contacts were virtually non-existent.
Related:
Hussein al-Sheikh : 2020-09-10 Arab League rejects PA demand to condemn Israel-UAE deal
Hussein al-Sheikh : 2020-06-12 Palestinians again refuse planeload of virus aid from UAE
Hussein al-Sheikh : 2019-10-05 Palestinians to receive $430 mln Israeli transfer, say officials
Related:
Mahmoud Abbas: 2021-01-28 Palestinians applaud renewal of ties with US
Mahmoud Abbas: 2021-01-28 Abbas rival Dahlan banned from running in Palestinian election — Fatah official
Mahmoud Abbas: 2021-01-02 Abbas announces agreement with Hamas to hold elections. Hamas says: "Whut?"
Related:
Mohammad Shtayyeh: 2020-11-18 Palestinians restore ties with Israel
Mohammad Shtayyeh: 2020-08-07 Brother of senior Fatah official killed in family feud
Mohammad Shtayyeh: 2020-06-11 Erekat: No need to declare Palestine a state, it already is one
Related:
Daniel Benaim: 2018-12-23 PUK urges US to stay in Rojava, headquarters in war on terror
Posted by:trailing wife

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