Fayyad meets with Knesset Member Herzog

Prime Minister Salam Fayyad of the Palestinian Authority (PA) met with Israeli Chairman Yitzhak Herzog of the Labor faction in the Knesset Monday evening, 4 February, at Fayyad's office in Ramallah. During the meeting, Fayyad expressed concern about the collapse of the PA. Fayyad warned that PA is in trouble due to delays in the transfer of tax revenue from Israel and of money that donor nations have committed to, but not yet provided to the PA. Herzog told Israeli National News that "the scenario of the collapse of the authority is catastrophic, not only for the Palestinians but also for us. It must disturb the sleep of our leaders. It means the Israel Defense forces return to take responsibility of West Bank cities." He said that this potential collapse is partly due to the policies of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Referring to PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, Herzog added that the government of Abbas and Fayyad is the only true Palestinian partner in the peace process and Israel must make a maximum effort to negotiate with them.