Palestine’s President to Punish Officials Criticising Arab Leaders

The official Wafa news agency said Abbas has reiterated rejection of “interfering in internal affairs of Arab countries or criticising any of their leaders”, Middle East Monitor reported.

Abbas stated he will punish any member in the Palestinian leadership who criticises Arab leaders for “undermining Arab and Palestinian security”, Wafa added.

He praised support of Arab countries and their rejection of US President Donald Trump’s decision in December to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

It remains unclear the reason of Abbas’s statement, but local and Arab media recently cited tension between the Palestinian Leader and Arab states, particularly Egypt and Saudi Arabia.