Biden Administration Announces Special Envoy for Palestinian Affairs

The Biden administration has appointed Hady Amr as a new special representative for Palestinian affairs, a senior State Department official said.

This step marks the first time the U.S. has created a Washington-based position at the State Department that is solely responsible for Palestinian Affairs.

Amr will work under the authority of the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs.

“The Washington-based Special Representative for Palestinian Affairs will engage closely with the Palestinians and their leadership and, together with Ambassador [Thomas] Nides and his team, continue to engage with Israel on Palestinian-related issues," the State Department official said.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas had reservations about it at first, but he made it clear that the Palestinian Authority approved the decision and will work with Amr.

“As the President reiterated in Israel and the West Bank, we remain committed to re-opening our Consulate General in Jerusalem and to the vision of a two-state solution," the State Department official said.

On his part, former U.S. special envoy for Israeli-Palestinian peace Martin Indyk said: “Because Hady is known and trusted by the Secretary of State and other senior officials, he will have access and influence at the highest level.”

Indyk affirmed that this move is an upgrade at a time of serious deterioration in the situation in the West Bank. He added that Amr's challenge will be bolstering the Palestinian Authority and encouraging it to undertake serious reforms “without which the West Bank will become increasingly unmanageable."