Wednesday, November 22, 2017

Palestinian Authority cuts ties with U.S. after office closed

The Palestinian Authority has officially suspended contact with the United States after the Palestine Liberation Organization's office was closed in Washington.
"The PA has decided to cut its ties with the U.S. administration in response to the closure of the PLO office in Washington," the Palestinian presidency spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeina said in a statement.
Last week, the U.S. State Department said it would not renew the office license because of Palestine's request for the International Criminal Court to open an investigation to prosecute Israel. The agreement needs renewed every six months. It expired last week.
Trump now has 90 days to determine whether the Palestinians have "entered into direct, meaningful negotiations with Israel."
In response on Saturday, PLO Secretary General Saeb Erekat said they would "button-hold all our communications" with the United States.
Palestinian Authority Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki has said the U.S. decision "would hamper any hopes Washington has of brokering a Middle East peace deal." (Read More)