Middle East conflict: US-Palestinian dispute escalates

The US government wants to close the Palestinian PLO representation in Washington. The Palestinians are threatening to set talks with Trump's government.

Middle East conflict: US-Palestinian dispute escalates

Relations between US and Palestinians are at a new low point. The U.S. State Department announced that it would close mission of Palestine Liberation Organization PLO in Washington. On Saturday, Palestinians threatened to cancel communication with government of President Donald Trump, should it actually close diplomatic representation.

The reason for dispute is attempt by Palestinian leadership to bring Israel to International Criminal Court because of its illegal settlement in Palestinian territories. President Mahmoud Abbas had reiterated this demand in United Nations general debate in September, and in view of US government it had crossed a line.

A legal clause allows US government to close PLO office in Washington if Palestinians want to turn ICC against Israel. According to text of law, Trump now has 90 days to decide wher Palestinians have "taken direct and meaningful" peace negotiations with Israel by that time. In such a case, mission could be reopened, it was called government circles.

The Palestinian foreign minister, Riad Malki, told Radio Palestine: "The Palestinian leadership will not accept blackmail or pressure." The Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said that Palestinians would stop communicating with US if US government made announcement true. Their decision was "unhappy and unacceptable" and owed to pressure of Israel. Similarly, a spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas also spoke. The US government has thus disqualified itself as a "mediator and promoter of political process".

The Office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu merely shared that it was a US law issue. According to an official, US Department of State must regularly authorise operation of office. The recent certification period expired in November and Ministry has not been able to grant a new permit. The official referred to a law that ties operation of Office to certain conditions. Following conclusion of Foreign Minister Rex Tillerson, this law was violated by Palestinians ' aspiration to bring Israel to International Criminal Court, among or things because of Jewish settlements.

The Palestinians don't trust Trump

Representatives of US government disown that it wants to build pressure on Palestinians in Middle East peace process with closure. A new initiative by Trump's son-in-law and consultant Jared Kusher has not yet brought tangible results. The Palestinians are sceptical with regard to Trump's close relations with Israel.

The Palestine Liberation Organization PLO is a formal representative of Palestinian people. Although US does not recognize Palestine as a state, re is a general delegation in Washington that allows contacts between representatives of Palestinian leadership and US government.

The PLO mission opened 1994 under n President Bill Clinton, 2011 was allowed to Palestinians under Barack Obama to hoist ir flag re – an appreciation of ir status. In addition, several States and international organizations recognized Palestine as a state in recent years. Israel categorically rejects this.

Date Of Update: 19 November 2017, 12:02
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