The United States is denying and revoking visas from members of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) and the Palestinian Authority (PA) ahead of the upcoming United Nations General Assembly.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio made this known in a statement which said the move was in accordance with U.S. law and President Donald Trump’s “administration’s reaffirmed commitment to not reward terrorism”
“The Trump Administration has been clear: it is in our national security interests to hold the PLO and PA accountable for not complying with their commitments,” the statement said.
The Palestinian officials were also blamed by the U.S “for undermining the prospects for peace”.
Before the PLO and PA can be considered partners for peace, they must consistently repudiate terrorism, the statement read.
This, it said, includes “the October 7 massacre and end incitement to terrorism in education, as required by U.S. law and as promised by the PLO”.
“The PA must also end its attempts to bypass negotiations through international lawfare campaigns,” the U.S. said.
According to the U.S., this includes “appeals to the ICC and ICJ, and efforts to secure the unilateral recognition of a conjectural Palestinian state”.
“The PA Mission to the UN will receive waivers per the UN Headquarters Agreement.”
The statement stressed: “The United States remains open to re-engagement that is consistent with our laws”.
The U.S. demanded “the PA/PLO meet their obligations and demonstrably take concrete steps to return to a constructive path of compromise and peaceful coexistence with the State of Israel”.
Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General António Guterres, said the UN was aware of the issue and would engage with U.S. authorities on it.
“We’ve learned of this, just like you, through the press statements. We’re obviously going to follow up,” Dujarric said.
“We’ll discuss these matters with the State Department in line with the UN Headquarters Agreement between the UN and the U.S.”
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