U.S. to deny visas to holders of Palestinian passports

The New York Times reported on Sunday that the Trump administration has halted issuance of visas to holders of Palestinian passports, including those seeking to come to the United States for medical treatment, university study, or to visit relatives.

This cancellation joins the U.S. decision not to grant visas to senior Palestinian officials, including Abu Mazen – a move that could prevent him from delivering his speech at the United Nations General Assembly next month.

According to four U.S. sources cited by the newspaper, Palestinians will not be able to obtain visas in various categories, including those for business travel. The Trump administration did not provide a reason for the decision, but it is clear it does not apply to Palestinians who hold other foreign passports, nor to those who have previously received visas.

The U.S. State Department confirmed it had ordered American diplomats to limit the issuance of visas to Palestinians.

The U.S. decision to cancel visas for Abu Mazen and other senior Palestinian Authority officials was announced last Saturday. The decision is based on provisions of the PLO Compliance Act, which states that the Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization violate U.S. obligations by ”their unilateral declaration of a Palestinian state, encouraging violence, promoting anti-Semitism, and supporting terrorism”. As a result, visa issuance is barred for at least 180 days.

According to Fox News, the U.S. move to bar the Palestinian delegation is unprecedented: the United States has previously refused entry to individual delegation members, such as members of Iranian delegations, but it has never blocked an entire delegation from attending the General Assembly.

Internal guidance alleges the step is necessary because the Palestinian Authority leadership planned to promote a ‘constitutional declaration’ of independence at the Assembly — a move Washington viewed as a propaganda victory for Hamas and a threat to ceasefire talks in Gaza.

The State Department said the United States “remains open to renewing engagement – but only if the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority meet their obligations and take concrete steps to return to the path of settlement and coexistence with the State of Israel.”