The US State Department has announced the closure of the PLO office in Washington, a move the PA has announced would be “a declaration of war on efforts to establish peace in the region.”

The ministry said in an official statement on Monday that the Palestinian Authority had not taken any steps since supporting the peace process with the Israelis. On the contrary, the government in Ramallah condemned the American peace plan “that they did not see” and refused to consider the United States as an intermediary in the peace process.

Al-Mahmoud expressed regret over the American decision, pointing out that Israel, which he referred to as the “American ally” and described it as an ally and a friend, “is today known throughout the world as the last occupation in history”