Abbas’ advisor: Abbas refuses to meet US VP Pence, US decisions on Jerusalem have “crossed red lines”
Official PA TV News, on the cancellation of PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas’ meeting with US Vice President Mike Pence
Official PA TV newsreader: “Advisor to [PA] President [Mahmoud Abbas] on Diplomatic Affairs Majdi Al-Khaledi emphasized that President Abbas will under no circumstances receive American Vice President Mike Pence, who will visit the region in the second half of [December 2017]. Al-Khaledi said in a statement to [official PA radio station] The Voice of Palestine that there will be no meeting with Pence, and that the issue is greater than a mere meeting because the US - in its decisions relating to Jerusalem (i.e., to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and transfer the US embassy there; see note below) - has crossed red lines that it should not have crossed. Al-Khaledi rejected the American warnings regarding the consequences of cancelling this meeting, and emphasized that our people and its leadership reject any threat from anywhere.”
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US recognition of Jerusalem as capital of Israel - On Dec. 6, 2017, US President Donald Trump gave a speech formally recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and stating that he had instructed the State Department to begin preparations to transfer the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Trump concluded by stating that the US is still fully committed to the peace process in the Middle East. Following his speech, Trump signed the waiver to delay the transfer of the embassy, and apparently will continue to do so until preparations for the transfer have been completed.
Official PA TV newsreader: “Advisor to [PA] President [Mahmoud Abbas] on Diplomatic Affairs Majdi Al-Khaledi emphasized that President Abbas will under no circumstances receive American Vice President Mike Pence, who will visit the region in the second half of [December 2017]. Al-Khaledi said in a statement to [official PA radio station] The Voice of Palestine that there will be no meeting with Pence, and that the issue is greater than a mere meeting because the US - in its decisions relating to Jerusalem (i.e., to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and transfer the US embassy there; see note below) - has crossed red lines that it should not have crossed. Al-Khaledi rejected the American warnings regarding the consequences of cancelling this meeting, and emphasized that our people and its leadership reject any threat from anywhere.”
Click to view bulletin
US recognition of Jerusalem as capital of Israel - On Dec. 6, 2017, US President Donald Trump gave a speech formally recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and stating that he had instructed the State Department to begin preparations to transfer the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Trump concluded by stating that the US is still fully committed to the peace process in the Middle East. Following his speech, Trump signed the waiver to delay the transfer of the embassy, and apparently will continue to do so until preparations for the transfer have been completed.
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