CIA chief travels secretly to Ramallah after peace plan unveiling

U.S. senior official arrives in PA to assess situation after publication of Trump's so-called Deal of the Century; snubs Abbas during visit
i24NEWS|
CIA Director Gina Haspel secretly traveled to Ramallah last Thursday, a day after U.S. President Donald Trump's peace plan was announced, public radio Kan reported on Sunday.
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  • Haspel met with Palestinian officials, who told her of their intention to sever all ties, including security, with Israel and the United States.
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    CIA Director Gina Haspel
    CIA Director Gina Haspel
    CIA Director Gina Haspel
    (Photo: AFP/CIA)
    The CIA chief, who reportedly came to probe the Palestinian Authority after the announcement of the U.S. peace plan, did not meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas during her visit.
    However, Haspel did meet with Palestinian intelligence chief Majed Farage who told her that despite Ramallah's opposition to the American proposal, the exchange of information with the CIA will continue.
    The U.S. has yet to transfer $180 million in aid that the United States Congress has pledged to the Palestinian Authority security forces.
    Abbas announced earlier Sunday the Palestinian Authority has cut all ties with the United States and Israel, including those relating to security, after rejecting Trump's plan.
    "We've informed the Israeli side ... that there will be no relations at all with them and the United States including security ties," Abbas told the one-day emergency meeting, called to discuss Trump's plan.
    Israeli officials had no immediate comment on his remarks.
    Israel and the Palestinian Authority's security forces have long cooperated in policing areas of the West Bank that are under Palestinian control.
    While some Arab countries reacted warily to the plan - some capitals even calling for its examination - the Arab League officially rejected it.
    The organization promised that Arab leaders would not cooperate with Washington saying the plan, "does not respect the fundamental rights and aspirations of the Palestinian people."
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