The State Department notified Congress that the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and Palestinian Authority (PA) have again failed to meet their obligations under the PLO Commitments Compliance Act of 1989 and the Middle East Peace Commitments Act of 2002. The violations include actions at international bodies that contradict commitments to Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338, efforts to internationalize the conflict through the ICC and ICJ, pursuit of unilateral recognition to circumvent negotiations, and continued stipend payments to terrorists alongside the glorification of terrorism in official statements and educational materials.
In response to this continued noncompliance and activities that threaten peace prospects, the United States will enforce visa-denial sanctions against PLO members and PA officials under section 604(a)(1) of the MEPCA. The Department has preserved the standing waiver for staff previously notified to the PLO Observer Mission at the United Nations, consistent with earlier determinations. Imposing consequences and holding the PLO and PA accountable for glorifying terrorism serves the national interest.