Palestine cuts diplomatic ties with Israel

Diplomatic relations between the Palestinian Authority (PA) and Israel will officially end in early 2016.

Israeli soldiers fired rubber bullets and tear gas at violent Palestinian protesters in the West Bank city of Bethlehem on December 18. Photo: AFP/ VNA

Regional media on December 21 quoted Secretary General of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Saeb Erekat as saying the above information.

Speaking on local radio station Al-Quds, Mr. Erekat said that the PLO would cut all ties with Israel, including security cooperation, at the beginning of the new year.

Mr. Erekat noted that in response to the latest decisions of the Israeli Government to continue building illegal Jewish settlements as well as Judaizing the Jerusalem area, "Palestine will no longer hesitate on this issue."

According to this senior PLO official, the decision to cut ties between the two sides was made in March but the implementation was delayed until Palestine "had discussions with Arab countries and regional powers on the necessary measures on this issue".

According to VNA/ News