Arab Newspaper: Palestinian Authority In Contact with Trump Administration Despite Vows to Cut Ties

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas speaks to the media with German Chancellor Angela Merk
Sean GallupDrew Angerer/Getty

The Times of Israel reports: The Palestinian Authority has retained some contact with the Trump administration, despite vowing to cut off all ties to the US leadership in protest of its recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, the London-based Arabic newspaper Al-Hayat reported Saturday.

The paper, citing Palestinian officials, said that while Trump’s peace envoys have been shunned by the PA, diplomatic channels remain open, and were never severed. According to the report, a US official has been invited to the opening of the Palestinian Central Council summit in Ramallah on Sunday. At that meeting, senior Palestinian leaders will debate responses to Trump’s announcement on Jerusalem.

Trump’s December 6 recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital infuriated the Palestinian leadership, who see East Jerusalem as the capital of a future state they have sought to gain through American-led negotiations.

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