Shtayyeh reiterated Palestinians' core demands for a two-state peace deal with Israel
Palestinians not consulted about US-led economic conference
Washington says conference to encourage investment in West Bank, Gaza first part of Trump’s peace plan, Palestinians unaware.
Monday 20/05/2019
Shtayyeh reiterated Palestinians' core demands for a two-state peace deal with Israel
RAMALLAH - The Palestinian leadership said Monday it was not consulted over an economic conference next month in support of Washington's Middle East peace plan and no party was entitled to negotiate on its behalf.
The White House announced Sunday it would co-host the June 25-26 conference with Bahrain focusing on economic aspects of the long-delayed peace plan, with the declared aim of achieving Palestinian prosperity.
"We were not consulted by any party on the announced meeting to take place in Manama, Bahrain," Saeb Erekat, secretary general of the Palestine Liberation Organization, said in a statement.
"We have not mandated any party to negotiate on our behalf."
The Palestinians have boycotted the US administration since President Donald Trump broke with decades of consensus and recognised Jerusalem as Israel's capital in December 2017.
They consider the eastern part of the city the capital of their future state and have shown little interest in the US peace plan, which they fear will be heavily biased in favour of Israel.
The Trump administration is expected to unveil the long-awaited plan possibly as early as next month.
Washington has yet to commit to an exact timetable on political aspects of the plan.
Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner is the chief architect of the proposals.
Sunday's joint statement from the US and Bahrain called the event a "pivotal opportunity... to share ideas, discuss strategies and galvanise support for potential economic investments and initiatives that could be made possible by a peace agreement".
The Palestinians see this as offering financial rewards in exchange for accepting ongoing Israeli occupation.
"Attempts at promoting an economic normalisation of the Israeli occupation of Palestine will be rejected," Erekat said.
"This is not about improving living conditions under occupation but about reaching Palestine's full potential by ending the Israeli occupation."
The US peace plan is expected to feature proposals for regional economic development that would include Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon.