‘Dangerous escalation’: US shuts Palestine’s Washington mission

RAMALLAH: The United States has decided to close the Palestinian mission in Washington in the latest move against them by President Donald Trump, a Palestinian official said Monday, denouncing it as a "dangerous escalation".

The closure comes as Trump seeks to force the Palestinian leadership, which has cut off contact with the White House, to negotiate as his team pursues a plan for Middle East peace -- what he calls the "ultimate deal".

The United States has also been angered by a Palestinian bid to have Israel investigated for war crimes at the International Criminal Court.

Palestinian officials say the reason given for the closure was their campaign at the ICC.

"We have been notified by a US official of their decision to close the Palestinian mission to the US," Palestine Liberation Organisation secretary-general Saeb Erekat said in a statement.

"This is yet another affirmation of the Trump administration's policy to collectively punish the Palestinian people, including by cutting financial support for humanitarian services including health and education."

Under longstanding US law, permission for the PLO to maintain its mission in Washington must be renewed every six months.

US officials say Palestinian leaders breach the arrangement by calling for Israeli officials to be prosecuted at the ICC.

The United States had already threatened to close the office in November.

The decision to close the mission comes just ahead of the 25th anniversary of the first Oslo accord on September 13, sealed with a handshake on the White House lawn and meant to lead to Israeli-palestinian peace.