Closure of PLO offices in Washington

The PLO was obliged to evacuate its offices in Washington following a judicial verdict that terminated its lease because of " the delay to pay the rent," as stated in the sentence. But the director of the office Hassan Abdul Rahman said that there are political reasons behind this decision.

Abdul Rahman attributed what had happened to the increase in the American people's support for Israel, noting that the aim of this step is to "silence the Palestinian voice and isolate it," noting that the owner of the building is a pro-Israel.

He said that the owner of the building told him "Yes. We do not want you to be here." The PLO proposed to pay the due sum of USD 7,000 but this request was rejected. Abdul Rahman indicted that the PLO had earlier delayed in paying the rent and the matter was used to be settled amicably, but this time the owner of the building refused "deliberately" any negotiation.

For its part the company owning the building said that the PLO was late in paying the rent twice in less than one year.

A spokesman for the US state department said that the PLO enjoys no facilities and privileges In the US because it is not a "diplomatic mission," adding that the question of the lease of the PLO is not within the authorities of the US state department.