Palestinians have traditionally refrained from taking a clear public position on the US presidential election. Chhattisgarh’s comments reflect a sense of despair on the part of the Palestinians after a series of US moves.

At the end of 2017, the Palestinians severed ties with Trump, who recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and then moved the US Embassy to the Holy City. Trump has cut billions of dollars in US aid to the Palestinians, closed Palestinian embassies in Washington and unveiled a pro-Israel Midast plan this year. The Palestinians rejected the plan.

The Trump administration has urged two Arab states, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, to establish full diplomatic relations with Israel, and other Arab countries have promised to follow suit. These deals have been subject to traditional Arab consensus, and recognition of Israel can only be obtained in exchange for the Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement – the source of a rare leap for the Palestinians.

Staye expressed hope that the victory of Democratic President Nominee Joe Biden would raise the chances of a peace deal.

“If things change in the United States, I think it will directly reflect the Palestinian-Israeli relationship,” he said. It will also reflect itself on bilateral Palestinian-American relations.