Talks held with U.S. to reverse PLO's office closure decision

CAIRO – 24 September 2018: Arab League Ambassador to the UN Maged Abdel-Fatah revealed contact with the United States to reverse its recent decision to shut the Palestinian Liberation Organization's office in Washington.

In an interview with Ra'y Aam (Public Opinion) on TeN TV, Abdel Fatah said that the Palestinian objection to negotiate with the U.S. concerning the Palestinian cause is the reason behind the U.S. administration's decision.

Abdel Fatah said that a large number of the Arab League leaders are communicating with the U.S. to control the consequences of the decision.

U.S President Donald Trump's administration ordered on September 10 the closure of the PLO's office in Washington, citing Palestinian leaders' rejection to enter into peace talks with Israel as the reason behind the decision.

The goal of that step is pressuring the Palestinian Authority (PA) to accept the peace plan formulated by the United States, siding with Israel in rejecting the two-state solution with Eastern Jerusalem being the capital of the Palestinian state and Western Jerusalem being the capital of the Israeli state.

The U.S. decision to move its embassy to Jerusalem on December 6 without first reaching an agreement with the Palestinians crippled peace talks, giving rise to international moves in favor of the Palestinians.