Palestinians call for general strike, mass protests against Trump's Bahrain workshop

Palestinians are calling for mass protests against a regional workshop in which the Trump administration will unveil the economic part of its long-awaited plan to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party said Saturday that PLO factions have also called a general strike on June 25, when the Mideast conference begins in Bahrain. The protests in the occupied Palestinian territories are slated a day ahead.

The Palestinians have urged Arab countries to boycott the meeting, saying the entire plan ignores the two-state solution and deprives them of a future capital in east Jerusalem.

On Tuesday, the White House said Jordan, Egypt and Morocco are joining the workshop in Manama, but Jordan said it has not yet decided.

At the meeting, Washington is expected to present economic incentives as part of the broader plan.

The Palestinian leadership has already rejected the long-delayed US peace plan, saying President Donald Trump's moves so far show him to be blatantly biased in favour of Israel.

Since coming to office, the Trump administration has recognised Jerusalem as Israel's capital and moved its embassy to the contested city.

The US has also cut hundreds of millions in funding for UNRWA, the United Nations organisation for Palestinian refugees, and hospitals in East Jerusalem.

Agencies contributed to this report.

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