THE Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) suspended its recognition of the state of Israel today, following Monday’s meeting of its executive committee in Ramallah.

It said it would stop its commitments with the occupying forces until Israel recognises a pre-1967 borders Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

PLO secretary general Saeb Erekat said that the severing of ties would be done gradually, but, due to the seriousness of the situation, there was a need to implement the decisions of the executive committee

At present, there are 69 issues regarding relations between Palestine and Israel covered by eight signed agreements, but these will now be scrutinised by the PLO which will decide on how to proceed.

Mr Erekat explained “There will be no jumping in the air because the issues are not slogans."

He accused the US of colluding with Israel in plans to separate the Gaza Strip from the West Bank and Jerusalem in order to end the aim of a Palestinian state based on 1967 borders.

In a statement, the PLO said it rejected the so-called “Deal of the Century” offered by US President Donald Trump which it had previously branded “meaningless” and could not be considered without including Jerusalem as its capital.

"The committee lauded the efforts of the secretary general in continuing to reject this deal and confronting it with all available means to defeat it, as well as deeming the US administration a partner of the Israeli occupation government and a part of the problem, not the solution," it said.

Mr Erekat warned that the election of the far-right president Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil is part of the “Trump project” after he said the country would recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, a decision he vowed to prevent.