Palestinians stop CIA information-sharing

occupied jerusalem — The Palestinian security services will stop sharing information with the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), in protest at Israeli plans to annex parts of the occupied West Bank, a senior official said on Thursday.

“It has been 48 hours that the American Intelligence Service have been notified that the agreement with them is no longer in force,” chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said.

“Security cooperation with the US no more. Security cooperation with Israel no more.”

The Palestinian government cut all ties with the Trump administration in 2017, accusing the US president of pro-Israel bias.

Certain non-political relations were maintained, however, including between the Palestinian security services and the CIA.

The exact details of the information-sharing is not public but is thought to concern Palestinian militant groups such as Hamas.

Erekat did not provide specific details on what the announcement would mean on the ground. —