PLO official condemns US decision to close PLO office in Washington
Headline: "Palestinian opposition to the American position regarding the PLO office"
"PLO Executive Committee Member and Head of the Department of Culture and Information Hanan Ashrawi condemned the American administration’s decision to close the PLO office in Washington… Ashrawi said that this is an unprecedented step in the history of the American-Palestinian relations, which will have severe consequences on the peace process, and it goes without saying that it will damage the current [American] administration’s ability to present any credible peace initiatives, and will also damage its standing and credibility in the region and outside it."
PLO US office closure - On Nov. 17, 2017, the American administration announced that the PLO has violated a 2015 Congressional mandate, which states that the PLO cannot operate an office in Washington if the Palestinians try to get the International Criminal Court to prosecute Israelis for crimes against the Palestinians. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson determined that the Palestinians violated this mandate in September 2017, when PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas called on the International Criminal Court to investigate and prosecute Israelis while speaking at the UN. US President Donald Trump has 90 days to determine whether the Palestinians have entered into meaningful negotiations with the Israelis and make a final decision regarding the closure of the office.
"PLO Executive Committee Member and Head of the Department of Culture and Information Hanan Ashrawi condemned the American administration’s decision to close the PLO office in Washington… Ashrawi said that this is an unprecedented step in the history of the American-Palestinian relations, which will have severe consequences on the peace process, and it goes without saying that it will damage the current [American] administration’s ability to present any credible peace initiatives, and will also damage its standing and credibility in the region and outside it."
PLO US office closure - On Nov. 17, 2017, the American administration announced that the PLO has violated a 2015 Congressional mandate, which states that the PLO cannot operate an office in Washington if the Palestinians try to get the International Criminal Court to prosecute Israelis for crimes against the Palestinians. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson determined that the Palestinians violated this mandate in September 2017, when PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas called on the International Criminal Court to investigate and prosecute Israelis while speaking at the UN. US President Donald Trump has 90 days to determine whether the Palestinians have entered into meaningful negotiations with the Israelis and make a final decision regarding the closure of the office.