Axios reported that the United States rejected an Israeli request to boycott a conference hosted by Norway on the Palestinian economy.
The American website said that Israel asked the United States to boycott the meeting after Norway recognized the Palestinian state, but Washington refused.
This meeting – hosted by Norway – brought together international officials to discuss the Palestinian economy, and witnessed the participation of US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell, which is the highest level of US government participation in such a conference since 2016.
During the conference, Campbell said that Israel must end withholding Palestinian tax revenues. He considered that the Israeli threat to stop correspondence with Palestinian banks was unacceptable.
This development comes amid the recent recognition of the State of Palestine by the governments of Norway, Spain and Ireland, adding momentum to a renewed push towards a two-state solution. The participation of the United States at this high level – despite Israel’s objections – indicates a desire to participate more actively in addressing the economic and political realities on the ground.
Last Thursday, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned that Israel would not renew messaging services that will expire soon, considering that this would close a vital artery for the Palestinian territories amid the devastating conflict in the Gaza Strip.
Yellen added that her country and partners “need to do everything in their power to increase humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in Gaza, to contain violence in the West Bank, and to seek to stabilize the West Bank’s economy.”
Yesterday, the G7 Finance Ministers meeting supported the American position, and said that they would call on Israel to maintain correspondent banking services between Israeli and Palestinian banks to allow vital transactions, trade and services to continue.
A statement – at the conclusion of the meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors of the Group of Seven in Stresa, northern Italy – also called on Israel to “release the withheld clearing funds to the Palestinian Authority, in light of its urgent financial needs.”
