MK Gilad Kariv, a member of the Labor Party, embarked on a significant diplomatic venture by visiting Ramallah on Tuesday. During his visit, Kariv engaged with associates of Palestinian Authority Chairman Abu Mazen, conducting meetings with senior officials from the PLO, Fatah, and civil society circles. Notably, this meeting was organized in advance through coordination with both the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and the Ministry of Defense, underscoring the careful planning and diplomatic protocol involved.
Within the confines of MK Kariv's office, where he holds the title of chairman for the "lobby of the two states" within the Knesset, it was revealed that the delegation received close security escort from Palestinian authorities, ensuring their safe passage from entry to exit in Ramallah. During these deliberations, Kariv emphasized the importance of sustaining and fortifying the security cooperation between Palestinian mechanisms and the Israeli security apparatus. His concluding remark captured the optimistic tone of the engagement, expressing the intent for future meetings to further the dialogue.
MK Kariv's office also shed light on the concerns expressed by associates of Abu Mazen. The topic of discussion revolved around the potential influence of an extremist government on Palestinian youth, leading to radicalization. An intriguing insight emerged during private exchanges, where Hamas reportedly referred to certain Israeli political figures as providential gifts. Due to the wishes of the Palestinian participants to remain anonymous, no joint photographic evidence materialized from this meeting.
נסענו אתמול לרמאללה עם חה''כ גלעד קריב, יו״ר שדולת שתי המדינות בכנסת, לפגישות עם בכירים פלסטינים כדי לגבש יחד אלטרנטיבה מדינית ריאלית שתקדם את פתרון שתי המדינות ותעצור את ההידרדרות למצב של מדינה אחת, לא דמוקרטית, מדממת ומייאשת את שני הצדדים. בקרוב נצרף עוד ח''כים למאמץ ליצור כח… pic.twitter.com/fU1w6U4J6G
— יוזמת ז'נבה (@YozmatGeneva) August 30, 2023
The objective of this visit, undertaken in collaboration with organizations such as "The Geneva Initiative" and the "Palestinian Peace Coalition," aimed at catalyzing a renewed discourse between Israeli political representatives and the moderate Palestinian leadership. The primary focus was to devise an alternative vision to counter the trajectory towards annexation of Judea and Samaria, a path attributed to the policies of the Netanyahu government.
The left-leaning "Geneva Initiative" reinforced the significance of the visit by issuing a statement. In their words, "The meetings with senior Palestinian officials were intended to collectively formulate a practical and realistic political solution that advances the two-state solution. This collaborative effort aimed to halt the slide towards a one-state reality, which is undemocratic and bloody for both parties involved." The statement also alluded to the forthcoming involvement of more Members of the Knesset, underscoring the aspiration to create a potent and influential public movement dedicated to safeguarding a positive future for all stakeholders.
Rabbi Gilad Kariv is the first reform Rabbi to enter the Knesset.
— A. D. Gordon 🐐 (@ADavidGordon) March 23, 2021
He is number four of Havoda. pic.twitter.com/danbDjhdqi
Conversely, MK Ohad Tal from the Religious Zionist party criticized Kariv's actions. He suggested that "The Labor Party, in its pursuit of attention and relevance, has deviated from the principles laid out by its founders. I wonder what goes through MK's Kariv’s mind at a time when he is feebly trying to renew the relationship with Abu Mazen's associates who are actively working to finance and encourage terrorism."
