The Palestinian Authority declared it cut all ties with the United States and Israel on February 1 after rejecting a Middle East peace plan proposed by Trump.

"We informed the Israeli side that we would not maintain relations with them and the US, including security issues," Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said at a press conference yesterday in Cairo, Egypt.

Israeli and US officials have not yet commented on the Palestinian leader's statement.

US President Donald Trump announced the Middle East peace plan during a joint meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on January 28.

The proposed plan to establish a demilitarized Palestinian state does not include Israeli-built Jewish settlements in territories controlled by them. The capital of the new Palestinian state encompasses parts of East Jerusalem and the rest of the city is "the indivisible capital of Israel".

"Trump asked me to discuss by phone but I said 'no'. He wanted to send a letter but I refused. I didn't want Trump to be able to say that he asked for my opinion. I completely opposed Trump's plan." "Said Abbas.

Israeli and Palestinian security forces have long cooperated in the Palestinian-controlled West Bank. The Palestinian Authority has a cooperation agreement with the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) although Palestinians boycott the Trump administration's proposals in 2017.

Arab League foreign affairs during a meeting on February 1 in Cairo, Egypt, said Trump's peace plan did not bring about comprehensive and fair peace and would not cooperate with the United States to implement it. The foreign ministers affirmed their right to establish a future Palestinian state in the Israeli-occupied territory with the capital, East Jerusalem, in a joint statement after the meeting.

Foreign ministers of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Iraq and Lebanon said there could be no peace without recognizing Palestinian rights and offering a comprehensive solution.

A number of Arab nations that have stood side by side with Palestine have backed Trump's plan due to the priority of close ties with the US and the same attitude towards Iran. Representatives of Oman, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were present when Trump announced the Middle East peace plan.

Netanyahu said he would ask the cabinet to approve the application of Israeli law in Jewish settlements in the West Bank. The move is believed to be the first step in an attempt to merge settlements and the Jordan Valley, which Israel controlled after the Six-Day War of 1967.

Most countries consider Israeli settlements on the land they control to violate international law. Trump changed the US policy to retract this objection.

Change of territory Israel - Palestine (click on the image to see details). Graphic: Việt Chung.