U.S. Imposes Travel Restrictions on Palestinians in Response to Pursuit of Statehood Recognition
In a significant development, the Trump administration has imposed a suspension on visitor visas for holders of Palestinian Authority passports. The directive, issued via a State Department cable on August 18, instructs consular officers to deny nonimmigrant visas under section 221(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
The suspension is effective immediately and halts entry for thousands seeking medical care, education, or family visits in the United States. However, it's important to note that Palestinian Arabs with dual nationality or existing visas are exempt from the suspension.
This move expands earlier restrictions targeting Palestinian Arabs from Gaza and now includes those from Judea and Samaria and the diaspora. The visa freeze coincides with growing momentum among Western nations to recognize a Palestinian state.
France, Canada, and potentially Britain are expected to announce recognition of a Palestinian state at the upcoming UN General Assembly. The recognition of a Palestinian state by these Western nations is condemned by Israel and opposed by some US officials, including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is reported to have ordered the exclusion of Palestinian Authority officials, including Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, from the UN Assembly.
The suspension of visas comes amidst a complex political landscape, with the Trump administration's decision contrasting with the growing international support for a Palestinian state. The implications of this decision on the broader Middle East peace process and US-Palestinian relations remain to be seen.
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