9/10/2018

ISRAEL/MIDDLE EAST/PALESTINE/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “President Donald Trump is closing the Palestine Liberation Organization’s mission in Washington, the latest U.S. blow against the Palestinians and an international court during the stalled Mideast peace process. Some things to know: THE GIST The administration’s move to close the PLO office in Washington is not directly connected to the Trump White House’s opposition to the International Criminal Court, although the administration is trying to link them. But the Trump administration is trotting out discussions about the two on the same day — Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year — in a move certain to inflame the White House’s already bitter relations with Palestinians. On the one hand, the State Department announced Monday [9-10-18] that the administration is closing the PLO office in Washington because the Palestinians aren’t directly negotiating any peace agreement with Israel. A provision in a U.S. law says the PLO mission must close if the peace process does not go forward.”

The Associated Press, “Trump Closing Palestinian Mission in Pro-Israel Move,” The New York Times online, September 10, 2018