Amid Middle East Diplomatic Upheaval... US Establishes Special Representative for Palestine Position

[Asia Economy Reporter Yujin Cho] As the far-right Israeli government is set to officially launch, significant changes in the Middle East situation are expected, and the United States has established a special representative position for Palestine within the State Department.

According to Axios on the 22nd (local time), the Joe Biden administration has created a new special representative position dedicated to Palestinian issues within the State Department and appointed Hady Am, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Israel and Palestine, as the representative. This is the first time the U.S. has created a position specifically responsible for Palestinian relations within the State Department.

This move is analyzed as an attempt to elevate the weakened relationship with Palestine amid the intensifying Israel-Palestine conflict. A U.S. State Department official stated, "The special representative for Palestine will engage in close dialogue with the Palestinian Authority and serve as a communication channel with Israel regarding Israel-Palestine issues."

There are also expectations that this could serve as a momentum to restore relations that were severed during the Donald Trump administration. In 2018, as part of its pro-Israel policy, the Trump administration closed the Jerusalem consulate, which had served as a communication channel with Palestine.

Martin Indyk, the White House special envoy for Palestine, told Axios, "This move signals that the United States values its relationship with Palestine."

With the victory of former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who allied with far-right forces, Israel is on the verge of the official inauguration of the most hardline right-wing coalition in its history. Amid this, there are concerns that far-right politician Itamar Ben-Gvir, who has emerged as a key figure in the new government, will become a focal point of conflict in the Israel-Palestine dispute.

He is the figure who most opposes the U.S. Middle East core strategy of the "two-state solution" (recognizing Palestine and Israel as independent states). Having led efforts to support violence by Israeli settlers in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, his initiative to fully annex the West Bank is expected to escalate the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Tensions in the region are already rising. In the Gaza Strip, governed by the armed faction Hamas, armed clashes have continued since the 3rd, shortly after the Israeli general election, including rocket launches toward Israel.

Benjamin Netanyahu. (Photo by Reuters)

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.