US Government prevents Palestinian FM from making statement

WORLD, Dec. 09 (YPA) – The US government prevented Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki, a member of the Contact Group of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Arab League, from making a statement during his talks in Washington.

Members of the group held a press conference at the Four Seasons Hotel in Washington.

After a reporter asked Maliki, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan switched and said, “Mr. Maliki, he cannot answer your question, the US government imposes restrictions on him, and he cannot communicate with the press.”

The contact group is expected to meet with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and then travel to Canada on Saturday for talks.

The group was formed by a decision of the Arab Islamic Summit in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, on November 11, to discuss ways to stop the war in Gaza.

On Friday, the UN Security Council failed to pass a draft resolution calling for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, after the United States vetoed the resolution.

E.M