In spite of assurances by the European Union on Monday, the London-based pan-Arabic newspaper Al-Hayat reports that Europe intends to reject Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas' request to recognize the PA as a state.
According to diplomatic sources, the refusal stems from fear of a worsening the situation between Israel and the PA, and also in order not to appear to respond to United States President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.