February 06, 2019 - 6:20 AM
RAMALLAH, Palestinian Territory - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has pledged to continue security co-ordination with Israel, despite recent U.S. funding cuts to Palestinian security forces and years of impasse in the peace process.
Abbas told a gathering of Palestinian and Israeli activists on Wednesday that his government has counter-terrorism agreements with nearly 100 countries, including Israel.
He says the West Bank government has a "joint agreement to fight terrorism" with Israel and "will not violate it" — because if it does, "nothing will remain."
He added his hopes that a party committed to peace would succeed in the upcoming Israeli elections.
The U.S. cut all aid to the Palestinian Authority, including $61 million in security assistance, when an anti-terrorism law took effect last week. The forces are considered crucial for Palestinian and Israeli safety.
News from © The Associated Press, 2019