US imposes visa sanctions on Palestinian Authority officials and PLO members
The move comes even as other Western powers are moving toward recognition of Palestinian statehood
The US imposed sanctions on Palestinian Authority officials and members of the Palestine Liberation Organization on Thursday, accusing them of undermining peace efforts with Israel even as other Western powers moved toward recognition of Palestinian statehood.
The US State Department said it would deny visas for travel to the United States by those it was targeting, although it did not name any specific individuals.
“It is in our national security interests to impose consequences and hold the PLO and PA accountable for not complying with their commitments and undermining the prospects for peace,” the State Department said in a statement.
The State Department said the two Palestinian organisations had “taken actions to internationalise” their conflict with Israel, including through the International Criminal Court, and said both had continued “to support terrorism”.
The PA and PLO serve as representatives for the Palestinian people and have long pushed for recognition of a Palestinian state by international organisations and foreign nations. The two groups had no immediate comment on the US move.
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