A senior Palestinian official, Hanan Ashrawi says Palestine will not be blackmailed into submission following a threat by Donald Trump via Twitter to cut aid to Palestinian Authority. His comment came few hours after the United States President tweeted that his country would consider withdrawing financial aids to Palestine since the country does not appreciate nor respect the United States.
He also hinged his position on the unwillingness of Palestine to engage in peace Talk with Israel to resolve the lingering border dispute between both countries.
Trump's tweets read
"It's not only Pakistan that we pay billions of dollars to for nothing, but also many other countries, and others. As an example, we pay the Palestinians HUNDRED OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS a year and get no appreciation or respect. They don’t even want to negotiate a long overdue peace treaty with Israel. We have taken Jerusalem, the toughest part of the negotiation, off the table, but Israel, for that, would have had to pay more. But with the Palestinians no longer willing to talk peace, why should we make any of these massive future payments to them?"
Responding, Ashrawi in a statement issued on Wednesday said "We will not be blackmailed. President Trump has sabotaged our search for peace, freedom and justice. Now he dares to blame the Palestinians for the consequences of his own irresponsible actions!"
Peace talks between the two countries over the occupation of Jerusalem crumbled after Trump recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Jerusalem, although the United Nations later voted overwhelmingly against the decision.
Following the move by the US, Palestine opted out of all forms of negotiations with Israel, heightening tension in the area.
