PLO Secretary General Saeb Erekat on Sunday tweeted: “Merging the US Consulate with the embassy represents the final nail in the coffin of the US administration’s role in the peace effort. The consulate has served 175 years in Jerusalem-Palestine, its closure is an expression of the fanatical ideology that rejects the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination.”
Erakat:The last nail in the coffin of the US Administration role in peace makinghttps://t.co/LyjMd8Zwy2
— Dr. Saeb Erakat الدكتور صائب عريقات (@ErakatSaeb)
The move was initially announced last October by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who said it would “improve the efficiency and effectiveness of our operations.” A US official has now announced that the United States’ decision to reduce its representation to the PA Arabs would come into effect on Monday. (See: US Embassy Completes Merger with Consulate in Jerusalem)
The move brings all the Palestinian Authority affairs directly under the supervision of Ambassador David Friedman, a well known supporter of the settlement enterprise.