The Trump administration announced Monday that it is closing the Palestine Liberation Organization's mission in Washington, citing Palestinian leaders' resistance to peace talks and attempts to get an international court to prosecute Israel for alleged war crimes. The announcement marks the latest blow by the United States against the Palestinians amid a stalled Mideast peace process. Bolton’s announcement on closing the mission adheres to a provision in U.S. law saying the PLO mission must close if the Palestinians try to get the ICC to prosecute Israelis for crimes against Palestinians. “The United States continues to believe that direct negotiations between the two parties are the only way forward,” Nauert said in a statement. Along with the announcement of the closing of the PLO mission, Bolton also said the U.S. will impose sanctions against the ICC if it investigates the U.S. and Israel.

Source: Fox News September 10, 2018 16:07 UTC