Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon and PA (Palestinian Authority) Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah met secretly on Sunday due to US pressure, towards strengthen economic cooperation between Israel and the Palestinians, Galei Tzahal (Army Radio) reported on Monday morning 10 Cheshvan.
According to the report, Kahlon and the Palestinian PM met to promote economic initiatives, the most important of which is the establishment of an industrial zone in Tarkumiya where Jews, mainly chareidi residents of Modi’in Illit, will work alongside Palestinians.
The meeting was kept secret and the parties did not make any announcement about it. This is the second meeting in the last six months of Kahlon with the Palestinian prime minister, as stated, due to American pressure that seeks to achieve political movement, at least in the economic arena.
President Donald Trump’s special Mideast envoy Jason Greenblatt tweeted Monday that the meeting in Ramallah yielded “meaningful steps forward on key economic issues —revenues, customs and investment — that help support the search for peace.”
It was also reported that those who are delaying the construction of the new industrial zone are the Palestinians, and the meeting with Kahalon is intended to advance the initiative into action. In addition, other economic initiatives were discussed at the meeting.
The meeting was kept secret by Israel since following the signing of the agreement between Fatah and Hamas; Israel announced it would halt all contact with PA officials until Hamas denounces violence and recognizes the existence of the State of Israel, which is yet to occur.
Important progress last night between Israeli & Palestinian sides led by @RamiHamdalla & @KahlonMoshe & Gen Mordechai of @Cogat_Israel (1/2) pic.twitter.com/VzFVbkBnX1
— Jason D. Greenblatt (@jdgreenblatt45) October 30, 2017
Meaningful steps forward on key economic issues – revenues, customs, and investment – that help support the search for peace (2/2)
— Jason D. Greenblatt (@jdgreenblatt45) October 30, 2017
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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