Statement in Response to the Closing of the PLO General Delegation Office in Washington, DC

WESTLAND, Mich., Oct. 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Federation of Ramallah Palestine (AFRP) wholly condemns the Trump Administration's latest decision to close the General Delegation of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)'s Mission office in Washington, DC. We believe, in making such a decision, the Administration affirms its continued punishment of the Palestinian people.

This decision solidifies the Trump Administration's lack of commitment to a genuine peace process based on equality and justice and further removes the U.S. from being an honest peace broker.

The Trump Administration, including Mr. Jared Kushner, continue to marginalize Palestinians by enabling Israel's illegal policies in occupied Palestine.

Recently, the U.S. State Department claimed the, "PLO has not taken steps to advance the start of direct and meaningful negotiations with Israel." On contrary, the Palestinian Authority has complied in good faith with the Oslo Peace Accords that marked their 25^th anniversary this year, along with other subsequent U.S.-supported agreements, despite Israel's continued illegal annexations of Palestinian land and their human rights violations.

Shutting down the PLO Mission office continues to reward Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as he continues to build illegal settlements, occupy Palestinian land, oppress Palestinian protesters, and refuse to accept any sort of solution that gives autonomy to the Palestinians.

This latest action, along with others such as defunding the UNRWA, moving the US Embassy to Jerusalem and the continued financial support to Israel, shows an obvious lack of commitment towards a two~state solution.

Coercing the Palestinians to negotiate their own demise is simply cruel, criminal and against civil and human rights.

The Trump Administration's policies towards the indigenous Palestinian people will certainly result in damaging implications not only for the peace process, but throughout the region.  

Unlike President Trump, Palestinians take solace in our values and the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution which states: We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of  America.

These borrowed lines are the same frameworks of the Palestinian people who are demanding their rights to be free in their own homeland.

George K. Habeeb
President, American Federation of Ramallah, Palestine

SOURCE American Federation of Ramallah, Palestine

Related Links

https://afrp.org/