Palestine to Not Present at US Conference in Bahrain: PLO

Ramallah, MINA – Senior official Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Wasel Abu Youssef said his country would not attend at the United States (US) conference in Bahrain.

“Our position is clear, we will not participate in the economic segment or in the political segment of this agreement,” he was quoted as saying on the Jerusalem Post page on Monday.

Previously, Government of the US will hold an international economic conference in Bahrain on June 25-26. It reportedly will release the first part of Middle East peace plan, including Israeli-Palestinian conflict, at the event.

A senior official in President Trump’s administration said the conference in Bahrain would bring together government officials and business leaders in order to restart the economic part of peace plan.

Proposals to resolve the complicated political issues between Israel and Palestine will be discussed.

He also said that the conference would show Palestinian people, especially Gazans and Hamas, that there were donor countries around the world who were willing to come and make investments.

However, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh said Palestinian government had not been consulted regarding US economic conferences in Bahrain next month, including plans to encourage investment in the Gaza Strip and West Bank.

“Cabinet did not consult the workshop (economy) that was reported, not about the content, nor the results and time,” he said.

Trump administration said it would release a Middle East peace plan known as the “Deal of the Century” after the holy month of Ramadhan.

But allegations have emerged that the US peace plan does not include Palestinian independence. This was confirmed by Washington Post report last month.

The US officials quoted by Washington Post said that in its peace plan, Trump administration would only include improvements to the living conditions of Palestinian people.

Instead of independence, the US said to be investing and donating tens of billions of dollars for West Bank and Gaza Strip. Some Arab countries, such as Egypt and Jordan, will also enjoy the flow of funds from Washington. (T/Sj/P2)

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)