Abbas, Gantz Meet to Discuss Confidence-building Measures

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas met with Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz at the defense minister’s home in Rosh Ha’ayin, in central Israel, Tuesday night. It was the second meeting in recent months between the Palestinian president and the Israeli defense minister, who held a tête-à-tête in Ramallah, on the West Bank, in August. Also present at Tuesday’s meeting: Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories Maj. Gen. Rassan Alian, PA Civil Affairs Minister Hussein Al-Sheikh, and Palestinian intelligence chief Majed Faraj. The leaders discussed plans to advance economic and security cooperation between the sides. A statement from the Israeli Defense Ministry said Gantz referred to “the parties’ shared interest in deepening security coordination, maintaining regional stability and preventing terror and violence” and expressed support for “advancing confidence-building measures in economic and civilian areas” at the meeting. Following the meeting, Gantz approved various confidence-building measures, including the transfer of NIS 100 million ($32 million) in tax revenues that Israel collects from Palestinian workers in Israel on behalf of the Palestinian Authority. In July, Israel withheld almost NIS 600 million in tax revenues in response to the PA’s policy of making payments to the families of Palestinian attackers killed or imprisoned by Israel.