Palestinians say they won't be blackmailed by U.S. move to close PLO officeRAMALLAH/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Palestinian officials expressed surprise on Saturday at a U.S. decision to close the Palestine Liberation Organization office in Washington unless the group enters peace negotiations with Israel, and said they would not surrender to blackmail. A U.S. State Department official said that under legislation passed by Congress, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson could not renew a certification that expired this month for the PLO office,  given certain statements made by the Palestinian leaders about the International Criminal Court.  The law says the PLO, the main Palestinian umbrella political body, cannot operate a Washington office if it urges the ICC to prosecute Israelis for alleged crimes against Palestinians. In an address to the United Nations General Assembly in September, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said the Palestinian Authority called on the ICC  to open an investigation and to prosecute Israeli officials for their involvement in settlement activities and aggressions against our people.  The State Department official added that restrictions on the PLO in the United States, including the operation of its Washington office, could be waived after 90 days if U.S. President Donald Trump  determines the Palestinians have entered into direct, meaningful negotiations with Israel.   We are hopeful that this closure will be short-lived,  said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. According to the official Palestinian news agency WAFA, the Palestinian presidency expressed surprise at the U.S. move, which was first reported by the Associated Press. WAFA quoted Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Al-Maliki as saying that Palestinian leaders would not give in to blackmail or pressure regarding the operation of the PLO office or negotiations on an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement. The agency quoted a spokesman for Abbas, Nabil Abu Rdainah, expressing surprise, given that meetings between Abbas and Trump had been  characterized by full understanding of the steps needed to create a climate for resumption of the peace process.      A Palestinian official who spoke on condition of anonymity told Reuters the State Department had informed the Palestinians of the decision on Wednesday.  It was not immediately clear what effect the State Department s move might have on the Trump administration s efforts to revive peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians, which are led by Jared Kushner, the U.S. president s son-in-law and senior adviser.    Abbas  spokesman called the U.S. move an unprecedented step in U.S.-Palestinian relations that would have serious consequences for the peace process and U.S.-Arab relations, according to WAFA. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement on Saturday:  This is a matter of U.S. law. We respect the decision and look forward to continuing to work with the U.S. to advance peace and security in the region.  The State Department official said the U.S. move did not amount to cutting off relations with the PLO or signal an intention to stop working with the Palestinian Authority.  We remain focused on a comprehensive peace agreement between the Israelis and the Palestinians that will resolve core issues between the parties,  the official said. worldnews
palestinians say wo blackmailed move close plo reuters palestinian officials expressed surprise saturday decision close palestine liberation organization office washington unless group enters peace negotiations israel said would surrender blackmail a state department official said legislation passed congress secretary state rex tillerson could renew certification expired month plo office given certain statements made palestinian leaders international criminal court the law says plo main palestinian umbrella political body operate washington office urges icc prosecute israeli alleged crimes palestinians in address united nations general assembly september palestinian president mahmoud abbas said palestinian authority called icc open investigation prosecute israeli officials involvement settlement activities aggression people the state department official added restrictions plo united states including operation washington office could waived days president donald trump determines palestinians entered direct meaningful negotiations israel we hopeful closure said official spoke condition anonymity according official palestinian news agency afa palestinian presidency expressed surprise move first reported associated press afa quoted palestinian foreign minister road saying palestinian leaders would give blackmail pressure regarding operation plo office negotiations peace agreement the agency quoted spokesman abbas nail abu rdainah expressing surprise given meetings abbas trump characterized full understanding steps needed create climate resumption peace process a palestinian official spoke condition anonymity told reuters state department informed palestinians decision wednesday it immediately clear effect state department move might trump administration efforts revive peace talks israel palestinians led jared pusher president senior adviser abbas spokesman called move unprecedented step relations would serious consequences peace process relations according afa israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu said statement saturday this matter law we respect decision look forward continuing work advance peace security region the state department official said move amount cutting relations plo signal intention stop working palestinian authority we remain focused comprehensive peace agreement israeli palestinians resolve core issues parties official said worldnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: Palestinians say they won't be blackmailed by U.S. move to close PLO officeRAMALLAH/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Palestinian officials expressed surprise on Saturday at a U.S. decision to close the Palestine Liberation Organization office in Washington unless the group enters peace negotiations with Israel, and said they would not surrender to blackmail. A U.S. State Department official said that under legislation passed by Congress, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson could not renew a certification that expired this month for the PLO office,  given certain statements made by the Palestinian leaders about the International Criminal Court.  The law says the PLO, the main Palestinian umbrella political body, cannot operate a Washington office if it urges the ICC to prosecute Israelis for alleged crimes against Palestinians. In an address to the United Nations General Assembly in September, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said the Palestinian Authority called on the ICC  to open an investigation and to prosecute Israeli officials for their involvement in settlement activities and aggressions against our people.  The State Department official added that restrictions on the PLO in the United States, including the operation of its Washington office, could be waived after 90 days if U.S. President Donald Trump  determines the Palestinians have entered into direct, meaningful negotiations with Israel.   We are hopeful that this closure will be short-lived,  said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. According to the official Palestinian news agency WAFA, the Palestinian presidency expressed surprise at the U.S. move, which was first reported by the Associated Press. WAFA quoted Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Al-Maliki as saying that Palestinian leaders would not give in to blackmail or pressure regarding the operation of the PLO office or negotiations on an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement. The agency quoted a spokesman for Abbas, Nabil Abu Rdainah, expressing surprise, given that meetings between Abbas and Trump had been  characterized by full understanding of the steps needed to create a climate for resumption of the peace process.      A Palestinian official who spoke on condition of anonymity told Reuters the State Department had informed the Palestinians of the decision on Wednesday.  It was not immediately clear what effect the State Department s move might have on the Trump administration s efforts to revive peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians, which are led by Jared Kushner, the U.S. president s son-in-law and senior adviser.    Abbas  spokesman called the U.S. move an unprecedented step in U.S.-Palestinian relations that would have serious consequences for the peace process and U.S.-Arab relations, according to WAFA. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement on Saturday:  This is a matter of U.S. law. We respect the decision and look forward to continuing to work with the U.S. to advance peace and security in the region.  The State Department official said the U.S. move did not amount to cutting off relations with the PLO or signal an intention to stop working with the Palestinian Authority.  We remain focused on a comprehensive peace agreement between the Israelis and the Palestinians that will resolve core issues between the parties,  the official said. worldnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: palestinians say wo blackmailed move close plo reuters palestinian officials expressed surprise saturday decision close palestine liberation organization office washington unless group enters peace negotiations israel said would surrender blackmail a state department official said legislation passed congress secretary state rex tillerson could renew certification expired month plo office given certain statements made palestinian leaders international criminal court the law says plo main palestinian umbrella political body operate washington office urges icc prosecute israeli alleged crimes palestinians in address united nations general assembly september palestinian president mahmoud abbas said palestinian authority called icc open investigation prosecute israeli officials involvement settlement activities aggression people the state department official added restrictions plo united states including operation washington office could waived days president donald trump determines palestinians entered direct meaningful negotiations israel we hopeful closure said official spoke condition anonymity according official palestinian news agency afa palestinian presidency expressed surprise move first reported associated press afa quoted palestinian foreign minister road saying palestinian leaders would give blackmail pressure regarding operation plo office negotiations peace agreement the agency quoted spokesman abbas nail abu rdainah expressing surprise given meetings abbas trump characterized full understanding steps needed create climate resumption peace process a palestinian official spoke condition anonymity told reuters state department informed palestinians decision wednesday it immediately clear effect state department move might trump administration efforts revive peace talks israel palestinians led jared pusher president senior adviser abbas spokesman called move unprecedented step relations would serious consequences peace process relations according afa israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu said statement saturday this matter law we respect decision look forward continuing work advance peace security region the state department official said move amount cutting relations plo signal intention stop working palestinian authority we remain focused comprehensive peace agreement israeli palestinians resolve core issues parties official said worldnews