US refuses to close PLO office

American Department of State refused calls from 32 congressmen, including a republican presidential candidate, to close the PLO’s office in Washington, Palestinian newspaper Al-Resalah reported yesterday.

In a letter sent to the Secretary of State John Kerry on 18 December, the congressmen requested that an exceptional act that allows for the PLO office to remain open in Washington be cancelled.

The letter, which appeared on the website of the presidential Candidate Ted Cruz, said: “The United States government has an obligation to publicly denounce the PLO’s actions and should immediately revoke its waiver.”

“Allowing the PLO to maintain an office in Washington D.C. provides no benefit to the United States or the peace process.”

US Department of State spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau confirmed receiving the letter, noting that Kerry would reply to it. “We believe the PLO has a valid place… and we would oppose those efforts.”

She continued: “We believe that closing the PLO office would be detrimental to our ongoing efforts to calm tensions between Israelis and Palestinians, advance a two-state solution and strengthen the US-Palestinian partnership.”

The PLO’s office opened in Washington in 1994 under the protection of the waiver.