The planned trip for foreign ministers from several Arab states to the Israeli-occupied West Bank has been blocked by the Israeli government, as confirmed by the Jordanian government on Saturday. The visit was set for Sunday and aimed to facilitate a meeting with Palestinian leaders ahead of a June conference focused on the establishment of a Palestinian state, backed by France and Saudi Arabia.
The Jordanian foreign ministry stated that the delegation intended to meet with Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority, in Ramallah. Such a visit by high-ranking Arab officials to the West Bank would have been unprecedented.
Among the officials expected to attend was Faisal bin Farhan, the Saudi foreign minister, who would have been the first Saudi foreign minister to visit the West Bank in recent memory, according to Palestinian officials. Other attendees were anticipated from Bahrain and Egypt.
The delegation aimed to engage with Mr. Abbas in preparation for the upcoming conference in New York, which is expected to address the creation of an independent Palestinian state. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed strong opposition to this initiative.
In the context of the ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza, several European nations, including Spain, Norway, and Ireland, have formally recognized a state of Palestine, hoping to revive the stalled Middle East peace process. Since the conflict escalated nearly 20 months ago, local health officials report that over 54,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, without distinguishing between civilians and combatants.
The conflict began following a Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in approximately 1,200 fatalities, primarily among civilians, and around 250 hostages taken, according to Israeli sources.
Mr. Abbas leads the Fatah faction, which competes with Hamas and cooperates with Israel on security matters. Following Hamas's takeover of the Gaza Strip in 2007, Mr. Abbas's authority has sought to regain control of the territory.
The West Bank has been under Israeli occupation since the 1967 Middle East war, with nearly three million Palestinians living alongside about 500,000 Israeli settlers. The Israeli government exercises significant control over the lives of Palestinians, including regulating their movement.
Palestinians, supported by much of the international community, assert that the West Bank should be part of a future Palestinian state, a prospect that has diminished over time due to Israel's entrenched control. The Israeli government remains opposed to Palestinian independence.
In light of the ongoing conflict in Gaza, Israel has tightened its grip on the West Bank, conducting numerous raids against militants and establishing new checkpoints that hinder Palestinian movement. Additionally, Israeli forces have displaced tens of thousands of Palestinians from major cities in the northern West Bank, citing security needs as justification for these actions.
In recent months, Saudi Arabia has increased its financial support for the Palestinian Authority, even as discussions about normalizing relations with Israel continue among Gulf leaders. In response, Mr. Abbas has implemented political reforms, including appointing a longtime adviser as deputy, at the request of the Saudi government.
Mr. Netanyahu has long sought to establish normal diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia, viewing it as a significant achievement in a broader strategy of normalization with Arab states during his tenure.