RAMALLAH, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- Officials of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) condemned Saturday the U.S. decision to cut its financial aid to the Palestinians by over 200 million U.S. dollars.
The U.S. decision indicated that the real aim behind its financial aid to Palestinians is to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries, said Saeb Erekat, secretary general of the PLO.
"By cutting its aid, the United States is determined to abandon its international obligation, as it has previously abandoned international legitimacy decisions, especially pertaining to Jerusalem and refugees, and all other final status issues," said Erekat.
U.S. President Donald Trump declared Friday to cut nearly all the financial aid which had been allocated to projects for the Palestinians during 2017, including money for humanitarian assistance in the Gaza Strip.
The U.S. administration said it has decided to redirect the aid to other projects elsewhere.
Hanan Ashrawi, member of PLO Executive Committee, criticized the United States for using the "cheap blackmail" as a political tool.
"The Palestinian people and leadership will not be intimidated and will not succumb to coercion. The rights of the Palestinian people are not for sale," she said.
Husam Zomlot, head of the PLO delegation to Washington, said that the Trump administration is "dismantling" decades-long U.S. vision and engagement in Palestine.
"After Jerusalem and UNRWA (UN refugee body), this is another confirmation of abandoning the two-state solution and fully embracing (Israeli Prime Minister) Netanyahu's anti-peace agenda," he said.
Last December, Trump declared to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, sparking a global outcry and concern over further destabilizing the Middle East region.
At the beginning of this year, Trump announced a substantial cut on aid to the UNRWA, leaving the humanitarian organizations on the verge of collapse.
"Only a recommitment of the U.S. administration to the long-held U.S. policy of achieving peace through the two-state solution on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine, and respect for international resolutions and law will provide a way forward," Zomlot added.
The Palestinians have boycotted the U.S. so-called "deal of the century," put forward by Trump, saying it is far from their expectations and aspirations for a lasting and just peace settlement.
