US State Department rejects lawmakers' calls to close PLO office
- 8 years ago
The US State Department on Tuesday rejected calls by 32 congressional lawmakers, including Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz, to close the Washington office of the Palestinian Liberation Organization.
In a letter dated December 18, the lawmakers called on Secretary of State John Kerry to revoke a waiver that allows the PLO office in Washington to remain open.
They argued that Palestinian leaders encouraged violence against Israelis, including a wave of knife-wielding attacks in recent months.
"The United States government has an obligation to publicly denounce the PLO's actions and should immediately revoke its waiver," according to a copy of the letter posted on Cruz's website.
"Allowing the PLO to maintain an office in Washington, DC provides no benefit to the United States or the peace process."
State Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau confirmed that the department had received the letter and said Kerry would respond to it.
In a letter dated December 18, the lawmakers called on Secretary of State John Kerry to revoke a waiver that allows the PLO office in Washington to remain open.
They argued that Palestinian leaders encouraged violence against Israelis, including a wave of knife-wielding attacks in recent months.
"The United States government has an obligation to publicly denounce the PLO's actions and should immediately revoke its waiver," according to a copy of the letter posted on Cruz's website.
"Allowing the PLO to maintain an office in Washington, DC provides no benefit to the United States or the peace process."
State Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau confirmed that the department had received the letter and said Kerry would respond to it.