Palestinians to U.S: Rescind Yerushalayim Declaration or No Peace Talks

The Palestinians left no room for doubt about their boycott of United States diplomats, as their senior negotiator said on Tuesday that they would reject all U.S.-sponsored peace talks until President Trump rescinds his December 6 recognition of Yerushalayim as the capital of Israel.

“The continued American talk about deals to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict or calling for negotiations or talks is unacceptable to the Palestinian leadership, as long as Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel is not revoked,” Erekat told the official Voice of Palestine radio station, according to the official PA news site Wafa.

When President Trump recognized Yerushalayim as the capital of Israel, he “removed Jerusalem from any negotiations,” said Erekat.

Despite the Palestinian reactions, U.S. administration officials have been quoted as saying that work on developing a peace plan continues, with the hope that the Palestinians will see that it provides solutions that will benefit them, and will resume communications with Washington.