Palestine's Abbas will not meet with US VP: official

RAMALLAH– 9 December 2017: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will not receive US Vice President Mike Pence, who is set to visit the Middle East in the second half of the month, Abbas's Adviser for Diplomatic Affairs Majdi al Khaldi said Saturday.

Speaking to the Voice of Palestine radio, Khaldi noted that there will not be a meeting with Pence as US Jerusalem decision went beyond the accepted borders that should never be crossed.

He rejected US warnings of the consequences of canceling the meeting, stressing that the Palestinian people and leadership are rejecting any threat from whatever source.

Khaldi said that the coming phase will see active diplomatic moves, pointing out to the Arab ministerial meeting, slated for today in addition to the Islamic summit due to be held on Wednesday. The meetings are aimed to coordinate stances and moves against US President Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israeli capital and moving his country's embassy to it