Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas refused to speak to White House officials over the phone this week, as he threatened to freeze ties with the U.S. due to President Trump's decision to close down a Palestinian mission in Washington, the Times of Israel website reports today (November 23, 2017).
On November 21, Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki said he had been instructed by Abbas to put ties with Washington on ice after the U.S. State Department informed Abbas that the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) office in DC would be closed because Palestinians had violated a 2015 U.S. Congressional mandate.
"In practice, by closing the office they are freezing all meetings and we are making that official," Malki said.
The Palestinian freeze is likely to derail efforts by the Trump administration to restart peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.
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