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PA official criticizes US President Trump’s declaration of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, saying it is “terror in and of itself”

Headline: “Qalqilya: A meeting of the Executive Council”

“Qalqilya District Governor Rafe’ Rawajbeh led the regular meeting of the [Qalqilya District] Executive Council in his office yesterday [Sept. 10, 2018], in the presence of Deputy District Governor Husam Abu Hamda and members of the council.

Rawajbeh emphasized the important role that is being carried out by the Executive Council, and noted that the Palestinian cause is at a dangerous turning point in the shadow of the American bias in favor of the occupation that is being expressed by unfair decisions, the most prominent of which are the interference in UN matters and the stopping of the aid to UNRWA (UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East). He added that the goal of this interference is to revoke the refugee status of thousands of refugees in the lands of the diaspora, and commented that the American administration’s declaration of Jerusalem, our people’s eternal capital, as the capital of the occupation is a historic injustice, and it is terror in and of itself.”

US President Donald Trump's administration announced on Aug. 31, 2018 that it was immediately cutting all $360 million of annual American funding to UNRWA (UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East). Explaining the decision, the US State Department said, "The fundamental business model and fiscal practices that have marked UNRWA for years – tied to UNRWA’s endlessly and exponentially expanding community of entitled beneficiaries – is simply unsustainable and has been in crisis mode for many years. The United States will no longer commit further funding to this irredeemably flawed operation."
The move came after the US froze two planned payments to UNRWA in early January 2018 for more than $100 million, and the US administration spoke about the need to reexamine and conduct a reform of the UN body. This occurred after the PA refused to negotiate with Israel and cut diplomatic ties with America following US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital on Dec. 6, 2017.

US recognition of Jerusalem as capital of Israel - On Dec. 6, 2017, US President Donald Trump formally recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Trump added that the final borders of Jerusalem will be determined during negotiations.
The US embassy opened in Jerusalem on May 14, 2018, the anniversary of Israel's declaration of independence in 1948 according to the Gregorian calendar.

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