WASHINGTON, June 17 (Xinhua) -- Israeli government officials will not be invited to attend the U.S.-sponsored economic workshop to be held in Bahrain next week, U.S. media reported on Monday, citing a White House official.
The White House announced in May that the United States would unveil the first part of its Middle East peace plan at an economic workshop in Manama, capital of Bahrain, from June 25 to 26.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said on Monday that the meeting is to focus on the administration's "economic vision" for the Palestinians and will not focus on "political issues."
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced on Saturday that Palestine would not participate in the Manama economic workshop.
"Jerusalem and Palestine are not for sale," Abbas said in a meeting with the leaders of the Fatah Youth Movement in Ramallah.
The Palestinian Authority (PA) severed its political ties with the United States after President Donald Trump declared Jerusalem the capital of Israel in December 2017 and moved his country's embassy to the city in May last year.
