CAIRO, November 19, 2017 (WAFA) – The Arab League Sunday announced that its Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit has approached the US administration after the latter announced it will close the Palestine Liberation Organization‘s (PLO) office in Washington.

The league said in a press statement that Aboul Gheit and Minister of foreign affairs Riyad al-Malki met and discussed the latest developments on the ground and possible means to resume the peace process between the Palestinian and Israeli sides.

Al-Malki briefed Aboul Gheit on the official position of the Palestinian Authority regarding the closure of the PLO’s Washington office, saying it will harm the peace process and the role of the US as peace broker.

Aboul Gheit’s spokesman said the league is working to maintain official communication channels between the Palestinian Authority and the US administration, especially during these times where the world is anticipating a US peace initiative.

Saeb Erekat, secretary general of the Palestine Liberation Organization‘s (PLO) Executive Committee, said on Saturday that "the US State Department notified us with an official letter that they cannot certify the continuance opening of the PLO office in Washington D.C. due to the fact that we are pursuing and encouraging the ICC (International Criminal Court)."

Erekat said in a statement from Washington that "we responded to them with an official letter that in case you officially close the PLO office in Washington, D.C., we will put on hold all our communications with this American administration."

M.H