U.S. and Palestinian diplomats met at UN to discuss Gaza resolution
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Trump and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas at the Gaza peace summit in Egypt in October. Photo: Suzanne Plunkett/ Pool via Getty
UN Ambassador Mike Waltz met Tuesday with Palestinian diplomats in New York to discuss the draft Security Council resolution put forth by the U.S. to authorize an international security force in Gaza, three sources with knowledge of the meeting tell Axios.
Why it matters: The meeting was a rare engagement between the U.S. and the Palestinian Authority on plans for post-war Gaza.
- Israel opposes any involvement by the Palestinian Authority in governance and security in Gaza. The U.S. plan calls for PA involvement only after it conducts significant reforms.
- But for many Arab and European countries, the involvement of the PA is key to securing their support for the U.S. plan.
Driving the news: Earlier this week, the U.S. sent several UN Security Council members a draft resolution for the establishment of an international stabilization force in Gaza for a duration of at least two years.
- The ISF is intended to provide security in Gaza during a transition period during which Israel is to gradually withdraw and the Palestinian Authority is to conduct reforms that would enable it to take over Gaza longer-term.
Behind the scenes: A source briefed on the meeting between Waltz and the Palestinian diplomats said it was positive. The U.S. mission to the UN declined to comment on private diplomatic meetings.
- The source said the Palestinian diplomats used the meeting to ask for clarifications on several aspects of the draft resolution.
- Palestinian officials are generally supportive of the U.S. proposal, which talks about ending Hamas rule in Gaza and transferring it back to the PA in the future.
- At the same time, they want to see a more active role for the PA in Gaza in the immediate future.
Between the lines: The Palestinian Authority's ability to directly influence the text of the draft resolution is very limited, particularly given it doesn't want to get into a confrontation with the Trump administration.
- But the U.K., France and other European members of the Security Council also want to see a bigger role for the PA in Gaza, sources briefed on the negotiations in New York say.
- According to the sources, France asked the U.S. to insert an amendment to the text that would expand the role of the PA in Gaza. The U.S. and Israel both oppose the amendment, the sources said.
- The sources said the U.S. assessment is that Russia and China might try and ask for amendments, but will not block the resolution from passing.
What to watch: Waltz briefed the ambassadors of the 10 non-permanent members of the council about the draft resolution on Wednesday.
- A source with knowledge said the U.S. wants to conclude the negotiations on the text and bring it to a vote within two weeks.
