GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Tension between Palestinian leaders and the US administration is growing, especially since the United States decided Sept. 10 to shut down the PLO’s mission in the United States and officially expel its head, Husam Zomlot, along with his family and the mission's representatives. Washington also closed their bank accounts Sept. 16.
Washington explained the move by saying that the PLO hasn't taken steps to embark on direct and meaningful talks with Israel, and that the United States seeks to foil any Palestinian attempt to have the International Criminal Court investigate alleged Israeli crimes.