PA boycotts US vice president’s visit

Nabil Shaath, a senior aide of Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas, said that the Palestinian leadership “insists” on boycotting the visit of US Vice President Michel Pence to the region next week, Al-Resalah newspaper reported yesterday.

In a press release, Shaath said: “Our position was not changed and will not change as long as the current US Administration keeps its bias towards Israel.”

He added: “Pence’s itinerary does not include a visit to Ramallah as he knows that he would not be received if he decided to pay a visit.”

The PA official said that the US measures against the Palestinians and warnings to freeze UNRWA funds “proves it is bias towards Israel”.

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After Trump’s announcement of his administration’s decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s undivided capital, in contradiction to international law and peace treaties signed, the PA announced that it would cease talks with US saying America had proven it was no longer an honest broker.