State Department threatens to close PLO office in Washington

Jim Michaels | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Abbas at UN calls for end to 'apartheid' for Palestinians Abbas at UN calls for end to 'apartheid' for Palestinians Video provided by AFP

The Trump administration and Palestinian leaders on Saturday traded threats over the future of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) office in Washington.

The latest tensions could be a setback for Trump administration efforts to broker Middle East peace, which are being led by Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law.

Palestinians threatened to cut off all communication with the Trump administration if it closes the PLO office in Washington.

The move comes after the State Department warned they might refuse permission to allow the PLO office to continue operating in Washington.

The Palestinian foreign minister, Riad Maliki, said the Palestinians won’t give in to what he calls “extortion.”

“We will put on hold all our communications with this American administration,” Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said.

The State Department recently cited “certain statements made by Palestinian leaders" about the International Criminal Court (ICC) as the reason behind the non-renewal for the Washington office, the Associated Press reported.

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas' latest speech at the United Nations General Assembly, in which he suggested taking the issue of Israeli settlements to the ICC, may have been behind the U.S. stance, the AP reported.

But the Trump administration may be using the threat as a way to force the Palestinians to enter talks with Israel.

Trump now has 90 days to consider whether the Palestinians are in “direct and meaningful negotiations with Israel” before determining to close the office, the AP said.

If the Trump administration determines they are, the Palestinians can keep the office, which remains open for now.

More: Kushner’s Mideast peace push met with Palestinian skepticism

More: 5 Trump illusions about Middle East peace and Jared Kushner's mission impossible