Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Barbara A. Leaf traveled to Israel and the West Bank last week to meet with Israeli and Palestinian authorities in ongoing U.S diplomatic efforts in the region, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) announced.
Leaf was in the region from June 11 to June 14, the DOS reports, "to consult with Israeli and Palestinian partners on a range of priorities," such as strengthening U.S. collaboration with Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA), Israeli-Palestinian cooperation, and "U.S. support for a two-state solution," among other issues, according to the report.
During her visit, Leaf met with PA President Mahmoud Abbas, who has "become increasingly angry" with the U.S. over what the PA sees as failures by the Biden Administration to undo actions by the previous administration, including reopening the U.S. consulate in Jerusalem that was closed in 2019, the Times of Israel reports. The current administration has not moved forward on the reopening due to fierce resistance by the Israeli government, "which argues that reestablishing a consulate serving the Palestinians inside Israeli territory would encroach on its sovereignty," TI reports.
Abbas also insisted that the U.S. reopen the Palestinian Liberation Organization's (PLO) diplomatic mission in Washington, D.C. and to abandon legislation from 1987 that determined the PLO to be a terrorist organization, TI reports. He also brought up recent actions by Israel against Palestinians, including violence at holy sites and in settlements, and the recent shooting death of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh.
Leaf's visit was meant to reassure the PA that the U.S. is committed to strengthening relations between the two governments ahead of President Biden's planned visit to the Middle East in July. After the meeting with Abbas, Leaf's office issued a statement on social media that the sides discussed “the U.S.-Palestinian relationship, U.S. assistance to Palestinians, deepening ties and how Palestinians and Israelis alike deserve equal measures of freedom, security and prosperity.”
