Palestinians’ US rapprochement will hit a dead end
Significance New US President Joe Biden plans to reopen the Palestinians’ diplomatic mission in the United States, shuttered by his predecessor Donald Trump during a comprehensive breakdown of ties in 2018. The PA seeks to use a short window of intense anti-Trump sentiment to change basic US assumptions and has promised elections this year to burnish its democratic credentials. Impacts Restored US aid could produce an immediate economic upswing in the West Bank and Gaza. Israel could further extend its COVID-19 vaccination programme to Palestinians as a low-cost goodwill gesture. Dominant PA leaders who have staked their entire political lives on a two-state solution will cling to it despite receding prospects. The PA has proven resilient so far, but if it began to crack, lack of political support means it could disintegrate quickly.