Trump plans to shut PLO office in Washington

The Trump administration is expected to announce Monday that it will close the Palestine Liberation Organization’s office in Washington over its “failure to start meaningful negotiations with Israel.” Administration officials told the Wall Street Journal Sunday night that National Security Adviser John Bolton would make the announcement and say that “The US will always stand by our friend and ally, Israel.” He will also announce sanctions against International Criminal Court (ICC) officials attempting to act on the Palestinian demand to investigate either the US or Israel – up to and including sanctions on funding. These actions are part of the Trump administration’s campaign against the Palestinian Authority and its head, Mahmoud Abbas. It follows he latest cutoff of $25m in US aid to E. Jerusalem hospitals, after Abbas ordered a power stoppage to hospitals in the Gaza Strip.