As the Israeli war on Gaza enters its third month, the future of the region remains uncertain following the cessation of hostilities. Israeli and American officials have revealed that Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs, Ron Dermer, will arrive in Washington today, Tuesday, for meetings at the White House and the State Department regarding Israel's plans to reduce the war and transition to a lower-intensity operation in the sector.
A senior American official clarified that the main topic of discussion between the Biden administration and Netanyahu's government will be "how to conclude matters and in what timeframe." Concurrently, a senior Israeli official added that Dermer is set to meet with White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and members of Congress, as reported by Axios.
It was explained that Dermer is expected to discuss Israel's plans for the next lower-intensity phase of the war in Gaza, which Israeli officials anticipate will begin by the end of January. Additionally, the management of civil affairs in the sector during the upcoming long transitional phase will also be addressed.
The official noted that Dermer will also discuss Netanyahu's ideas and plans concerning what will happen in Gaza when the war ends, including who will govern the sector in the long term. The Biden administration has publicly stated it wants the Palestinian Authority to play a role in governing Gaza in a post-Hamas reality, but the American official revealed that Netanyahu had previously rejected this idea. However, in recent weeks, Dermer and other Israeli officials have begun discussing with their American counterparts what they refer to as "R.P.A," meaning the Palestinian Authority after reform.
Moreover, the official mentioned that an Israeli delegation led by Defense Ministry policy official Dror Shalom visited Washington last week for talks about the post-war scenario and utilized the acronym "R.P.A."
