FM Maliki said: "The only legitimate authority that will operate and continue to operate Gaza is the Palestinian Administration. This is how we see the situation in post-war Gaza."
National affairs: Instead of Israel often finding itself in the position of having to respond to the plans and initiatives of others, now others will need to respond to Israel’s clear position.
Palestinian leaders hope that Mustafa could now emerge as a unifying figure during the Israel-Hamas war.
Under interim peace accords reached in the 1990s, Israel's finance ministry collects tax on behalf of the Palestinians and makes monthly transfers to the PA.
"We want to show our readiness... to engage and to be ready, just to not to be seen as an obstacle between the implementation of any process that should take further," he said.
To revitalize and revamp the PA, much more will be needed than to merely replace the prime minister, who – in any event – plays second fiddle to the president, a man who essentially rules by decree.
The Jerusalem Post spoke to three Israeli experts in the fields of academy, military, and media – in an attempt to gain a better perspective of this event and its significance.