US is shutting down Office of Palestinian Affairs and merging it into its embassy in Jerusalem
CNN
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is closing the Office of Palestinian Affairs and merging it into the US embassy in Jerusalem, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said Tuesday.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is closing the Office of Palestinian Affairs and merging it into the US embassy in Jerusalem, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said Tuesday. “This decision will restore the first Trump term framework of a unified US diplomatic mission in Israel’s capital that reports to the US ambassador to Israel,” Bruce said at a department briefing. “Ambassador (Mike) Huckabee will take the steps necessary to implement the merger over the coming weeks.” Bruce claimed the closure of the office “is not a reflection on any outreach or commitment to outreach to the people at the West Bank or to Gaza.” “It really is actually very similar to what’s happening here with the bureaus, with our reorganization. It is making sure that the issues that are important are all working together right, are not segmented out so that the interests of the embassy – very, very much like the interests of our foreign aid and other actions – can work together in the Bureau as one entity,” she said. Still, it appeared to be a further downgrading of relations with the Palestinian people, especially since the announcement comes one day after Israel approved plans to expand its war in Gaza. On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “One thing will be clear: there will be no in-and-out.” After more than 18 months of war, Netanyahu said the population of Gaza will be displaced to the south “to protect them.” Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said Monday that “we are finally going to conquer the Gaza Strip.”
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