The Gulf States have been increasingly involved in the current crisis in the Palestinian Authority. It appears that the US has been promoting mediation efforts of moderate Arab regimes.
The involvement of the Gulf States in the Palestinian arena has been increasing lately. These states are trying to mediate between the Palestinian forces in order to reach an agreement that would bring an end to the hostilities in the Palestinian Authority.
The increasing involvement of the Gulf States has been evident in several events:
Qatar's six-points reconciliation offer (10/3) directed towards establishing a Palestinian unity government, releasing the abducted Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, and resuming dialogue with Israel.
Bahraini Foreign Minister's expected visit today (10/4) to the PA as part of the efforts to promote the Arab Peace Initiative. Talks (9/30) between Abu Mazen and high-level Kuwaiti officials dealing with regional issues and PA-Kuwait relations.
The diplomatic activity of the Gulf States may indicate that the United States has come to understand its current inability to serve as an honest broker between Israel and the Palestinians. Therefore, the US is coordinating and encouraging the involvement of moderate Arab states, whose authority seems to be better accepted by the parties to the conflict.
Sources
Issacharoff and Harel, Haaretz, 10/4/06, full text.