Abbas freezes ties with US over move to close Palestinians’ mission in Washington
Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas announced that he has frozen all contact with the U.S. over the Trump administration’s move to shutter the Palestinians’ mission in Washington, D.C.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas addresses the general debate of the United Nations General Assembly, Sept. 20, 2017. Credit: U.N. Photo/Cia Pak.
“In practice, by closing the office, they are freezing all meetings and we are making that official,” PA Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki told AFP.
The Palestinians’ move comes after the U.S. State Department on Saturday declined to renew the operating permission for the Palestine Liberation Organization’s (PLO) Washington office for the first time since the 1980s. PA chief negotiator Saeb Erekat called the move “very unfortunate and unacceptable,” and accused the Trump administration of capitulating to Israeli pressure.
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson informed the Palestinians that the decision came in response to statements made by Abbas at the United Nations General Assembly in September, when the PA leader called on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to prosecute Israeli officials. American law specifies that the PLO mission in Washington should be shuttered if the Palestinians initiate legal action against Israel at the ICC.
The State Department clarified that the office’s closure could be waived within 90 days if President Donald Trump “determines the Palestinians have entered into direct, meaningful negotiations with Israel.”
JNS.org
David Singer,
When was “PALESTINE” a State/Country ever formed?; What were/are its borders?; Is there a “Palestinian” Language? Is there a “Palestinian” currency? What is the Capital of “Palestine?”
Before 1948; Jews used to be called “Palestinians” although they were Living in “Eretz Israel” and speaking Hebrew
“Syria-Palestina” is a Fraudelent LABEL placed upon Israel-Judah-Judea By HADRIAN of Rome to punish the Jews for trying defend their G-d Given Land.
Now the Muslim Arabs are also trying to revise History; Just as Hadrian of old
Joe W
It is becoming very tedious to have to inform readers that the Palestinian Authority ceased to exist on 3 January 2013.
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-v-whitbeck/the-state-of-palestine-ex_b_2431690.html