Biden victory breathes life back into Israeli-Palestinian cooperation

The Palestinian-Israeli Declaration of Principles, commonly referred to as the Oslo Accords, is alive and well. That much was clear in a letter dated Nov. 17, Kamil Abu Rukun, the Israeli coordinator of government activities in the territories, to Hussein Sheikh, the Palestinian minister of civil affairs. Israel army officer Abu Rukun wrote, “The bilateral Israeli Palestinian agreements continue to form the applicable legal framework governing the conduct of the parties on financial and other matters.” The official also noted that Israel will continue to collect taxes on behalf of Palestinians, as stipulated in the Paris Economic Protocol of 1994.

The letter produced a surprise decision by the Palestinian leadership. Sheikh tweeted, “In light of the calls made by President [Mahmoud] Abbas regarding Israel's commitment to the bilateral signed agreements, & based on the official written and [verbal assurances] we received, confirming Israel's commitment to them … the relationship with #Israel will return to how it was.”