Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. Photo: Kremlin.ru via Wikimedia Commons.

JNS.org – The United States is reportedly threatening “severe steps” against the Palestinians if they follow through with plans to sue Israel in international courts.

According to Haaretz, the Americans have warned the Palestinian Authority that suing Israel could trigger severe consequences, including the closure of Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) offices in Washington and the end of economic aid to the Palestinian Authority.

In President Donald Trumps first week in office, he signed an order to execute a congressional resolution — which was originally drawn up under President Barack Obama — to move against the PA if the Palestinians decide to sue the Jewish state.

“Despite that resolution by Congress, the Palestinian leaders were counting on petitioning the court as a means of halting the settlements,” a Palestinian source told Haaretz. “But the messages arriving from Washington in recent days made clear that any such step by the Palestinians would lead to a severe American reaction, so much so that some talked about returning the PLO to the list of terrorist organizations.”

The report added that Palestinian leaders will be discussing the issue of whether or not to sue Israel during the next few days.

“The American threat is significant, but the Americans and the Trump administration have been talking about implementing a ‘two-state solution’ and in parallel have been letting Netanyahu persist with his destructive policy, and have been backing him, which is unthinkable,” the Palestinian source said.