The Trump administration on Monday closed down the Palestine Liberation Organization’s office in Washington over concerns with the delegation’s attitude toward a U.S.-led peace process with Israel.
“The PLO has not taken steps to advance the start of direct and meaningful negotiations with Israel,” State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a written statement. “To the contrary, PLO leadership has condemned a U.S. peace plan they have not yet seen and refused to engage with the U.S. government with respect to peace efforts and otherwise.”
Nauert said the move was made “after careful review,” and reflects similar worries expressed by lawmakers on Capitol Hill.
“This decision is also consistent with Administration and Congressional concerns with Palestinian attempts to prompt an investigation of Israel by the International Criminal Court,” she said. “This action should not be exploited by those who seek to act as spoilers to distract from the imperative of reaching a peace agreement.”
The White House was reportedly in the “late stages” of finalizing its peace plan in May around the time it controversially moved the Israeli U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The embassy’s opening sparked deadly protests from Palestinians, who also consider the city to be their capital.
Details surrounding White House’s framework are scant. The administration’s efforts, spearheaded by White House senior adviser Jared Kushner, were expected to be revealed in June or July.
The United Nations recognized the PLO as “the representative of the Palestinian people” in 1974. The U.S. prohibited the PLO from operating in the country in 1987, but lawmakers introduced another piece of legislation in 1993 to give the president the authority to suspend that law. The last six-month presidential waiver expired in November 2017.
