Washington (TDI): On Thursday, the United States announced that it would deny visas to Palestinian Authority officials and members of the Palestine Liberation Organization, accusing them of undermining peace efforts with Israel, although Western allies move towards recognizing the State of Palestine.Â
The US State Department said in a statement, “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 statement added that the two Palestinian organizations had “taken actions to internationalize” their war with Israel, by bringing it through the International Criminal Court, and both had continued “to support terrorism.”
The visa restrictions by the US can hinder the participation of Palestinian representatives in the UN conference happening this week. The conference has been sponsored by France and Saudi Arabia, with the agenda of a two-state solution as the guarantor of peace and stability in the Middle East.Â
The United States, which rejects any unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state, called the conference an insult to the people who were killed in the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack.
Read More:Â Canada Set to Join Growing Western Bloc Recognizing Palestine
The State Department has so far not specified who will be targeted in visa sanctions, and has only said that it would deny visas to “members” of the PLO and “officials” from the Palestinian Authority.Â
The statement also blamed the two groups of “continuing to support terrorism, including incitement and glorification of violence,” and of “providing payments and benefits in support of terrorism to Palestinian terrorists and their families.”
The Palestinian groups facing visa sanctions have not commented on the US action as of now. However, Israel has praise the move as “moral clarity.”
The Palestinian Authority and Palestine Liberation Organization have been the official representatives of the Palestinian people, making efforts for the recognition of Palestine even before October 7.Â
An IR student whose interest lies in diplomacy and current affairs and a part time debater
