The United States Department of State has announced sanctions against officials of the Palestinian Authority (AP) and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), accused of compromising peace efforts. These measures, prohibiting targeted persons with the obtaining of visas for the United States, are aimed at AP’s approaches to international institutions such as the ICC and the World Court, its allowances to sentenced for terrorism and their families, as well as incentive to violence, especially in schools.
“It is in our national security interest to impose consequences on the AP and OP for non-compliance with their commitments and for having undermined the perspectives of peace,” said the press release. This decision comes in a tense context, while the AP seeks to obtain increased international recognition, especially in the UN, where 147 countries already support a Palestinian state. The United States, allies of Israel, criticize these initiatives as an obstacle to bilateral negotiations.
These sanctions reflect the firm position of the Trump administration against any action perceived as favorable to Hamas or regional instability, while accentuating the pressure on the AP to reform its controversial practices.