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Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Dr. Mohammad Shtayyeh said that he has been in contact with the Biden administration, and was offered several confidence-building measures. He made the remarks in an interview with France 24 Arabic TV (France) that aired on February 7, 2021. Dr. Shtayyeh said that he spoke on the phone with Hady Amr, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Israeli and Palestinian affairs. He said that Amr assured him that the Biden administration will renew its aid to the Palestinians, reopen the PLO office in Washington D.C., and establish a U.S. consulate in East Jerusalem. He added that it will also renew its aid to the UNRWA. Dr. Shtayyeh said that the PA requested that the new administration revoke all of Trump's decisions including the transfer of the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, however, it understands that instead of this, the American administration might open a consulate in East Jerusalem that would cater to the Palestinians. For more about Dr. Shtayyeh, see MEMRI TV clips Nos. 8061, 6743, and 4485.
Interviewer: "Have you opened a channel of communication with the new Biden administration?"
Dr. Mohammad Shtayyeh: "Yes, there has been a phone call between myself and Mr. Hady Amr – Deputy Assistant Secretary for Israeli and Palestinian affairs. Mr. Amr reaffirmed what this administration declared during the election campaign: It will restore the aid, it will reopen the PLO office in Washington, and it will open a U.S. consulate in East Jerusalem. This is an important political message. In addition, the administration intends to restore aid to UNRWA and aid to the Palestinian people. These issues, as far as we are concerned, fall under the definition of confidence-building measures between this administration and us.”
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"We requested that this administration reverse all the decisions that were made by the Trump administration, including the decision [to move the] U.S. embassy [to Jerusalem]. However, we know that the new administration, might not go this way, and instead choose an alternative option, which is opening a U.S. consulate in East Jerusalem in order to deal with the Palestinians directly. I believe that it sends a [clear] political message."
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