U.S. tried to order Abbas to receive VP Pence
Article continues below
This is in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, a Palestinian official said Saturday.
"There will be no meeting with Pence, this is clear and the issue is bigger than just a meeting," Majdi al-Khalidi, Abbas's presidential adviser for diplomatic affairs, told Voice of Palestine radio.
Al-Khalidi added that "the United States of America in its decision on Jerusalem has crossed and passed all red lines."
Pence is scheduled to arrive in the Palestinian territories on December 19 to meet Abbas as part of a tour of several countries in the region.
The White House warned Friday against the cancellation of the Pence's meeting.
In response to the American warning, al-Khalidi said that "no one threatens the Palestinian people and no one threatens the Palestinian leadership."
"The U.S. won't be a sponsor for peace again, and it's not qualified to do so," al-Khalidi said, adding "there are many measures that will be taken by the Palestinian leadership soon." ■