Palestinian Leader Mahmud Abbas Cuts All Ties With Israel And The US

Daily Mail: Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas cuts all ties with Israel and the US over Donald Trump's latest peace plan

* Mahmud Abbas said plans were in 'violation' of the 1993 autonomy accords
* Trump's 'two-state solution' involves tunnel linking West Bank to the Gaza Strip
* The proposal recognises Israeli sovereignty over settlement blocs in West Bank

Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas has cut all ties with Israel and the US following Donald Trump's long-awaited Middle East peace 'vision'.

Abbas said the plan unveiled on Tuesday was in 'violation of the (autonomy) accords' launched in Oslo in 1993 by Israel and the Palestinians.

Trump's 'two-state solution' involves a tunnel linking the West Bank to the Gaza Strip.

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More News On Palestinian Leader Mahmud Abbas Cutting All Ties With Israel And The US

Palestinians cut ties with Israel, U.S. after rejecting peace plan -- Reuters
Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas suspends relations with the US, Israel --France 24
Palestinian Authority cuts ties with Israel, United States -- UPI
Abbas says Palestinians cutting all ties with Israel, US -- AFP
Palestine ‘cutting all ties’ with US and Israel over Trump’s ‘deal of the century’ – Abbas -- RT

President Trump: No Palestinian Aid Until They Agree To A Peace Deal

President Trump. Reuters

CBS News: Trump says he won't give aid to Palestinians unless they agree to peace deal

In a Rosh Hashanah conference call with Jewish faith leaders and rabbis, President Trump said he would not give money to Palestinians until they agree to make a peace deal.

"I stopped massive amounts of money that we were paying to the Palestinians and the Palestinian leaders. We were -- the United States was paying them tremendous amounts of money," Mr. Trump said Thursday. "And I'd say, you'll get money, but we're not paying you until we make a deal. If we don't make a deal, we're not paying."

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More News On President Trump's Remarks That There Will BE No Palestinian Aid Until They Agree To A Peace Deal

Trump: No peace deal, no Palestinian aid -- Jerusalem Post
Trump: U.S. Cut Financial Aid to Palestinians as Means of Pressuring Them Back Into Negotiations -- Haaretz
Trump: If Palestinians don't make a deal, they'll get no money -- YNet

President Trump Questions Whether Israel And The Palestinians Are Ready To Make Peace

U.S. President Donald Trump speaking to Israel Hayom Editor-in-Chief Boaz Bismuth at the White House. Photo: Official White House photo by Joyce N. Boghosian

Israel Hayom: Trump to Israel Hayom: The Palestinians are not looking to make peace

In interview with Israel Hayom Editor-in-Chief Boaz Bismuth, U.S. President Donald Trump says, "I have achieved more than I had promised" in first year of term • "Israel has to be careful with settlements," he says, adding that Israelis and Palestinians would be "foolish" not to make a peace deal.

"I expect to be here a long time," U.S. President Donald Trump said to me when I asked him whether the ayatollah regime would still be in place in Iran when he leaves office. "We will see."

When it comes to the leader of the free world, a remark like this can be taken as a semi-threat. One thing is clear: The U.S. no longer views Iran as a "stabilizing" power, or even remotely as one of the good guys in the region, the way Trump's predecessor, President Barack Obama, often did.

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More News On President Trump Questioning Whether Israel And The Palestinians Are Ready To Make Peace

Donald Trump warns Israel its settlements are 'complicating' search for Middle East peace -- The Telegraph
Trump warns Israel that settlements 'complicate' peace hopes -- BBC
Trump says he's 'not sure' Israel is interested in making peace with the Palestinians in rare criticism of the country -- Daily Mail
Trump says unsure Israel seeks peace with Palestinians -- AFP
Trump questions whether Israel, Palestinians ready to make peace -- i24NEWS
Israelis, Palestinians uninterested in US-brokered peace efforts, Trump says -- Washington Times
Trump: “I'm Not Sure Israel Is Looking to Make Peace” With Palestinians -- Slate Magazine

Top Palestinian Official Tells US Ambassador To U.N. Nikki Haley To 'Shut Up'

Secretary general of the Palestine Liberation Organisation Saeb Erekat

The Independent: Palestinian peace negotiator tells US ambassador to UN Nikki Haley to 'shut up' over Abbas criticism

Saeb Erekat accuses US ambassador of calling 'for overthrowing the democratically elected Palestinian president'

A Palestinian peace negotiator has told the US envoy to the United Nations to "shut up" with her criticism of Mahmoud Abbas, the President of the Palestinian Authority.

Saeb Erekat, secretary general of the Palestine Liberation Organisation, attacked Nikki Haley for her criticism of Mr Abbas' recent speech, which called Israel a "colonial project that has nothing to do with Jews" and attacked Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as its capital.

Mr Erekat said Ms Haley had "called for overthrowing the democratically elected Palestinian president".

“This is the president who led the peace process and promoted the principle of the two-state solution,” he said in an interview with Palestinian news website Al-Watan Voice, according to the Times of Israel. “Now this [US] ambassador is accusing him of lacking courage, and is calling for replacing him.”

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WNU Editor: I always find it refreshing when a diplomat blows his cool and reveals his true self. That is when you know that you are getting to him. In this case .... U.S. Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley has clearly rattled the secretary general of the Palestine Liberation Organization.

Palestinians And Israelis React To President Trump's Tweet On Cutting Aid To The Palestinian Authority

Washington Post: Israelis voice warnings, Palestinians talk of ‘blackmail’ in wake of tweets by Trump

JERUSALEM — President Trump’s threat to cut aid to the Palestinians has the potential to backfire, Israeli security officials and analysts warned Wednesday, saying it could weaken a Palestinian leadership that cooperates with Israel on security matters and fuel extremism by worsening already dire humanitarian conditions.

Palestinian officials accused the United States of using bullying tactics after both Trump and U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley indicated that the administration may cut funding to the Palestinians if they do not enter into peace talks with Israel. Palestinians “will not be blackmailed,” said Hanan Ashrawi, a member of the Palestine Liberation Organization’s executive committee.

But concerns over a funding cut straddle both sides of the conflict. The United States contributes roughly $700 million annually to the Palestinians, about half of it through the United Nations agency charged with humanitarian relief for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA.

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WNU Editor: There is definitely a lot of truth to this analysis .... Mahmoud Abbas Doesn't Have a Trump Strategy (Foreign Policy)

More News On Palestinians And Israelis Reacting To President Trump's Tweet On Cutting Aid To The Palestinian Authority

Palestinian officials slam Trump's threat to cut US aid -- CNN
‘US financial threats are political blackmail,’ says Hamas -- Middle East Monitor
Angry reaction on Trump threat to withdraw Palestinian aid -- Irish Times
Hamas Calls Trump’s Threats to Stop Funding UNRWA ‘Political Extortion’ -- Sputnik
Trump Withdrawing American Aid to Palestinians Will Fuel More Violence Against Israelis -- Haaretz
What would Donald Trump ending US aid mean for Palestinians? -- Kersten Knipp, DW

President Trump Questions U.S. Aid To Palestinian Authority

...peace treaty with Israel. We have taken Jerusalem, the toughest part of the negotiation, off the table, but Israel, for that, would have had to pay more. But with the Palestinians no longer willing to talk peace, why should we make any of these massive future payments to them?

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018

USA Today: Trump questions U.S. aid to Palestinian Authority without peace talks

WASHINGTON — President Trump questioned why the U.S. should pay the Palestinian Authority "hundreds of millions of dollars a year" as peace talks continue to stall, just weeks after he announced a controversial plan to move the American embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.

Palestinian leaders do not give the U.S. any "appreciation or respect," Trump tweeted Tuesday night. If they are "no longer willing to talk peace," Trump added, "why should we make any of these massive future payments to them?"

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WNU Editor: This is going to make a lot of people nervous. The Palestinian authority because of the loss of funds. The Palestinians who are dependent on that money. The Israelis who are worried about the blow-back.

More News On President Trump Questioning U.S. Aid To The Palestinian Authority

Trump threatens to cut off US aid to Palestinian Authority -- AP
President Trump Threatens to Withhold Aid to Palestinians -- New York Times
Trump questions U.S. aid to Palestinian Authority without peace talks -- USA Today
Trump threatens aid to Palestinians, appears to contradict himself on Jerusalem -- CNN
Trump Threatens to Cut Palestinian Aid; Says Israel Would Have 'Had to Pay' for Jerusalem Recognition -- Haaretz
Trump threatens to cut aid to Palestinians -- i24NEWS
Trump threatens to cut off US aid to Palestinians -- Los Angeles Times
Trump floats possibility of suspending aid to Palestinians -- Washington Examiner

Palestinian Authority Recalls It's US Envoy 'For Consultations'

The Independent: Palestinians recall US envoy 'for consultations' after Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital

Leaders deciding on shape of future relationship with US

The Palestinian Authority has recalled its envoy to the US following Donald Trump‘s decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

The move will allow for “consultations” over leaders’ future relationship with the US.

Days of protests followed Mr Trump’s announcement, leading to arrests and a number of deaths.

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More News On The Palestinian Authority Recalling Its US Envoy 'For Consultations'

Palestinians recall envoy to US -- BBC
Palestinians recall envoy to US for consultations after Jerusalem move -- AFP
Palestinians remove their envoy from Washington in protest after President Trump proclaims Jerusalem to be the capital of Israel and plans to move U.S. embassy there -- Daily Mail/AP
Palestine recalls U.S. envoy following Trump Jerusalem decision -- UPI

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas No Longer Wants The U.S. Involved In Brokering Any Israeli-Palestinian Peace Agreement

NPR: Abbas Says U.S. Shouldn't Lead Mideast Peace Process, Citing Jerusalem Policy

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas says his people no longer want the U.S. involved in brokering any Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement, after President Trump decided to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital last week.

Abbas called Trump's actions a crime and said he'll appeal to the United Nations.

Abbas made his forceful remarks Wednesday toward the end of an emergency session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, held in Istanbul. The meeting was dominated by talk of how to respond to the Trump administration's decision to change U.S. policy on Jerusalem and to begin the process of moving the U.S. Embassy there from Tel Aviv.

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WNU Editor: The White House has responded to the Palestinian leader .... Abbas 'distorting' Trump remarks on Jerusalem, and preventing peace, White House says (The Jerusalem Post).

More News On Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas No Longer Wanting The U.S. Involved In Brokering Any Israeli-Palestinian Peace Agreement

The Latest: White House says it’s still seeking Mideast deal -- AP
Palestinian leader rejects US role in peace process -- AP
Palestinian president: No role for US in peace process -- The Hill
Palestinians no longer accept US as mediator, Abbas tells summit -- The Guardian
Abbas: Palestinians will go to Security Council over full U.N. membership -- Reuters

Palestinian Officials Will Not Meet U.S. Vice President Pence When He Visits The Region Later This Month

Reuters: Palestinians to snub Pence during visit over Jerusalem move

CAIRO/GAZA (Reuters) - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will not meet U.S. Vice President Mike Pence during Pence’s visit to the region this month, in a snub over the U.S. recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, the Palestinian Foreign Minister said on Saturday.

Violence erupted for a third day in Gaza in response to President Donald Trump’s announcement on Wednesday, which overturned decades of U.S. policy towards the Middle East.

Israeli air strikes killed two Palestinian gunmen on Saturday after militants fired rockets from the enclave into Israel on Friday, which had been declared a “day of rage” by Palestinian factions.

Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem has infuriated the Arab world and upset Western allies, who say it is a blow to peace efforts and risks sparking more violence in the region.

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More News On Reports That Palestinian Officials Will Not Meet U.S. Vice President Pence When He Visits The Region Later This Month

Abbas will not meet with VP Pence, senior PA official confirms -- Jerusalem Post
Palestinian president to shun Pence over Jerusalem move -- AFP
Palestinian official: Pence is not welcome in Palestine -- Al Jazeera
Palestinian President Abbas won't meet Pence in region: foreign minister -- Reuters

White House Threatens To Close The Palestinian Office In Washington If The Palestinians Don't Get Serious About Peace Talks With Israel

The building housing the General Delegation of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in Washington. © Nicholas Kamm / AFP

CNN: US threatens to close Palestinian office in Washington

The Trump administration put the Palestine Liberation Organization on notice Friday that it will close the group's office in Washington if the Palestinians don't get serious about peace talks with Israel, State Department officials said.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has determined the Palestinians have violated a rarely invoked provision in US law that calls for the closure of the Palestine Liberation Organization's mission if they act against Israel in the International Criminal Court, the officials said.

The department asserts that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas ran afoul of the law in September when he called on the ICC to investigate and prosecute Israel for war crimes against the Palestinians.

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More News On The White House Threatening To Close The Palestinian Office In Washington

Trump administration threatens to shut down Palestinian delegation in Washington -- Los Angeles Times
Palestinians threaten to cut ties with US if PLO office is shut -- AFP
Palestinians Threaten To Suspend Talks If US Closes PLO Mission -- NPR
Palestinians 'could freeze US ties' over Washington office closure -- BBC News
Palestinian president says US threat to close PLO's DC office 'dangerous' for peace -- Washington Post
Abbas Aide: Threat to Shut DC Mission Harms US Status as Fair Israeli-Palestinian Mediator -- Haaretz

Israeli TV: President Trump Yelled At Palestinian President Abbas In Meeting For 'Lying About Commitment To Peace'

Donald Trump welcomes Mahmoud Abbas to White House in Washington , May 3, 2017. (photo credit:REUTERS)

Times of Israel: Trump yelled at Abbas: ‘You tricked me in DC,’ Israeli TV reports

President’s outburst in last week’s talks, alleging PA chief is engaged in anti-Israel incitement, was followed by shocked silence, Channel 2 claims; Palestinians insist meeting went fine.

On the surface, US President Donald Trump’s relations with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas have been surprisingly warm, but that belies a furious critique leveled by Trump at Abbas in their meeting in Bethlehem last week, an Israeli TV report said.

An angry Trump yelled at Abbas during their talks last Tuesday for his alleged direct involvement in incitement against Israel, Channel 2 reported, citing an unnamed American source.

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Update #1: Trump yelled at Abbas in meeting for 'lying about commitment to peace': report -- i24 News
Update #2: Trump furious with Abbas: You lied to me -- Arutz Sheva

WNU Editor: The White House is not denying these reports.

President Trump Meets Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas At The White House

Washington Post: Trump expresses confidence in chances of an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal but says U.S. can’t force it

President Trump on Wednesday expressed confidence that he can help the Israelis and the Palestinians negotiate a peace agreement, declaring as he stood next to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the White House that “we will get this done.”

But despite expressing optimism in the face of the long odds and an increasingly fraught relationship between the two Middle East players, Trump also warned that “there can be no lasting peace unless the Palestinian leaders speak in a unified voice” and renounce violence and hate — a reference to the split between the Palestinian Authority, which controls the West Bank, and the militant Hamas group, which controls the Gaza Strip.

Trump also cast the United States in a more intermediary role.

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More News On U.S. President Trump Meeting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas At The White House

Hosting Palestinian Leader, Trump Promises Middle East Peace -- New York Times
Trump vows to broker Israeli-Palestinian peace, offers no new policies -- Reuters
Trump on Mideast peace: 'We will get it done' -- AP
Trump on Middle East peace: 'We will get it done' -- AFP
Trump tells Abbas 'very good chance' of Mid-East peace deal -- BBC
Mahmoud Abbas meets Donald Trump in key US visit -- Al Jazeera
Trump vows to work as 'mediator' for Israeli-Palestinian peace -- CNN
Trump Meets Palestinian Leader Abbas and Wants Mideast Peace Deal -- NBC
Trump meets with Abbas, vows to 'get it done' on peace deal -- FOX News
Meeting Palestinian leader Abbas, Trump hopes for 'terrific' peace deal in Middle East -- USA Today
Trump promises big on Middle East peace: 'We will get this done' -- Politico

More U.S. Aid To The Palestinians

Photo: Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas. Source: globalpublicsquare

Administration Moves $500M In Palestinian Aid, As Agencies Scramble To Delay Furloughs -- FOX News

As federal agencies scramble to avert or delay sequester-tied furloughs, the Obama administration continues to spend millions of dollars on foreign aid to the Palestinians – and seek millions more, despite past efforts by Congress to freeze the money.

The State Department confirmed this month the administration has moved forward with $500 million in aid, and is trying to secure another $200 million from Congress. Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland says the aid is important, because an “economically viable Palestinian Authority” would help regional peace and security.

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My Comment: How is providing aid to the Palestinians .... many of whom cheered when 9/11 happened .... a national security issue? It may make some U.S. politicians feel good "playing Santa Claus" helping the Palestinians .... but sorry .... providing hundreds of millions of dollars (that is mostly borrowed money) to what is essentially a corrupt and hostile regime does not serve U.S. national security interests.

Despite U.S. Pressure, Palestinians Still Seek A U.N. Vote On Statehood

Palestine: we want UN vote for statehood. © REUTERS/ Ammar Awad

U.S. Appeals To Palestinians To Stall U.N. Vote On Statehood -- New York Times

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration has initiated a last-ditch diplomatic campaign to avert a confrontation this month over a plan by Palestinians to seek recognition as a state at the United Nations, but it may already be too late, according to senior American officials and foreign diplomats.

The administration has circulated a proposal for renewed peace talks with the Israelis in the hopes of persuading the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, to abandon the bid for recognition at the annual gathering of world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly beginning Sept. 20.

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More News On Palestinians Attempts For A UN Vote On Statehood

U.S. tries to stall Palestinian statehood bid: report -- Reuters
Palestinian effort to win nation status at UN instead of in negotiations with Israel is a mistake -- New York Daily News
Palestine: we want UN vote for statehood -- RIA Novosti
Abbas to address Palestinian people over UN bid -- Xinhuanet

My Comment: If there is a UN vote, the Palestinians will probably succeed in getting a positive result. But .... this will result in the loss of US aid, political support .... and .... heightened tensions (and violence) with Israel.

Will U.S. Aid To Palestinians Be Cut Over Statehood Bid?

US consul-general Daniel Rubinstein speaks at the US Consulate in Jerusalem's
annual Independence Day reception [MaanImages/George Hale, File]

Palestinian: US Warns Of Aid Cut For Statehood Bid -- Miami Herald/AP

JERUSALEM -- The Palestinians' chief negotiator said Friday that a U.S. diplomat had warned of a cut in aid to the Palestinians if they proceed with a unilateral bid for statehood at the U.N in September.

The U.S. said that negotiator Saeb Erekat had mischaracterized the words of the U.S. consul-general in Jerusalem, but declined to comment further.

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Update #1: US threatens aid cut over Palestinian bid for state -- The Independent
Update #2: U.S.: We will stop aid to Palestinians if UN bid proceeds -- Haaretz

My Comment: The U.S. Consulate is now making it clear that the envoy was not threatening U.S. aid to Palestinians.

Why Is The U.S. Paying The Salaries Of Convicted Terrorists?

Photo by: Ronen Zvulun/Reuters

US Paying Salaries For Jailed Palestinian Terrorists -- Jerusalem Post

Media watchdog tells congressmen PA spends over $5 million a month from US-provided budget in salaries to terrorists in Israeli prisons.

The Palestinian Authority spends more than $5 million a month paying salaries to terrorists sitting in Israeli prisons, according to a Palestinian Media Watch report presented to congressmen in Washington on Tuesday.

According to the report, written by Itamar Marcus and Nan Jacques Zilberdik, such payments contravene US law, which prohibits funding of any person who “engages in, or has engaged in terrorist activity.

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My Comment: Even if such a law is passed by Congress, President Obama will veto it.