President Trump asks why the US should continue to help fund Palestinians if, in the words of his tweet, they are not willing to talk peace. His comments come amidst ongoing protests over Washington's decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel
ADVERTISEMENTPresident Donald Trump is questioning US funding to Palestinians amidst ongoing protests over the decision to officially recognise Jerusalem as the capital of |srael.
In a tweet that also took aim at Pakistan, Mr Trump says Palestinians are no longer willing to talk peace and goes on to ask why the US should continue to make what he called "massive" payments to them in view of their stance.
Palestinians have refused to accept Washington's stance on Jerusalem and thousands have taken to streets of Gaza and the West Bank every Friday to protest against the announcement that was made in December. Some of the demonstrations have turned violent and a number of people have died.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said he would not accept any US peace plan for the Middle East in light of the decision.
Israel considers Jerusalem its eternal and indivisible capital. Palestinians want the capital of an independent Palestinian state to be in the city's eastern sector, which Israel captured in the 1967 Middle East War and annexed in a move never recognised internationally.
Most countries regard the status of Jerusalem as a matter to be settled in an eventual Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement, although that process is now stalled.