The Palestinians on Saturday edged closer to a diplomatic standoff with the Trump administration, saying the U.S. is using “extortion” tactics by threatening to close their diplomatic mission in Washington.
The response follows the State Department saying Friday that the Palestine Liberation Organization’s office in Washington will close because the Palestinians have run afoul of a U.S. law by calling for Israelis to be prosecuted by the International Criminal Court.
Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki told Palestine Radio that his people won’t cave to “extortion” and that they await further communication from the administration.
“The ball is now in the American court,” he said.
In addition, Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said this weekend that the administration’s decision is “very unfortunate and unacceptable.”
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