RAMALLAH, November 18, 2017 (WAFA) – Presidential spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh expressed deep surprise on Saturday at reports that the US administration is going to close the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) office in Washington if the Palestinians do not enter into serious peace talks with Israel "particularly since President Mahmoud Abbas‘ meetings with US President Donald Trump were characterized by a full understanding of steps to create a climate that allows for the resumption of the peace process," as he put it.

"The Palestinian side has not received any ideas even though many months have passed and in spite of numerous meetings held with the US side, which disqualifies the US administration from playing the role of a mediator and removes itself from the job as sponsor of the political process to achieve the peace President Trump has promised to reach," said Abu Rudeineh in a statement.

He stressed that this US measure that aims to close the PLO office in Washington "is unprecedented in the history of US-Palestinian relations, which could have serious consequences on the peace process and US-Arab relations, as well as serves as a blow to peace-making efforts and a reward to Israel, which is working to obstruct the US efforts by persisting with its settlement policy and its refusal to accept the principle of the two-state solution."

AP reported on Friday that the US State Department has warned the Palestinians that it would shut down the PLO mission in Washington if they do not start serious negotiations with Israel or it the Palestinians take Israel to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague over the settlements issue.

T.R./M.K.