U.S. imposes visa restrictions on Palestinian leaders amidst rising Middle East tensions
Palestine Liberation Organization
and the
Palestinian Authority
. This has made tensions in the Middle East even worse. The U.S. says that these actions directly threaten long-term peace and make the region less stable.
The move comes at a time when there is still fighting going on in Gaza and the West Bank. U.S. officials say that Palestinian leaders are glorifying violence and getting in the way of peace efforts. The US stated that this decision was made due to the Palestinian Authority's ongoing support for terrorism and their violations of previous peace agreements.
Explore courses from Top Institutes in
Please select course:
Select a Course Category
Product Management
Data Analytics
others
Management
CXO
Healthcare
PGDM
Project Management
Artificial Intelligence
Degree
Public Policy
Data Science
Design Thinking
Digital Marketing
Leadership
Cybersecurity
Technology
MCA
Finance
Operations Management
Data Science
healthcare
MBA
Others
Skills you'll gain:
Creating Effective Product Roadmap
User Research & Translating it to Product Design
Key Metrics via Product Analytics
Hand-On Projects Using Cutting Edge Tools
Duration:
12 Weeks
Indian School of Business
ISB Product Management
Starts on
May 14, 2024
Get Details
Skills you'll gain:
Product Strategy & Competitive Advantage Tactics
Product Development Processes & Market Orientations
Product Analytics & Data-Driven Decision Making
Agile Development, Design Thinking, & Product Leadership
Duration:
40 Weeks
IIM Kozhikode
Professional Certificate in Product Management
Starts on
Jun 26, 2024
Get Details
Skills you'll gain:
Product Strategy & Roadmapping
User-Centric Product Design
Agile Product Development
Market Analysis & Product Launch
Duration:
24 Weeks
Indian School of Business
Professional Certificate in Product Management
Starts on
Jun 26, 2024
Get Details
The State Department said in a statement on Thursday that the sanctions are being enforced under Section 604(a)(1) of the Middle East Peace Commitments Act of 2002 (MEPCA). Officials say that the PA and PLO have repeatedly failed to meet the requirements set out in both MEPCA and the earlier PLO Commitments Compliance Act of 1989.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
20 Things Women Should NEVER Wear!
TheSeniorMag.com
Undo
What caused the most recent U.S. sanctions against Palestinian officials?
The U.S. says it made this choice because of ongoing violations, such as glorifying violence in textbooks, paying terrorists and their families, and trying to make the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict
a global issue through the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Live Events
The State Department said in its official briefing, "These actions hurt trust and get in the way of any real path to peace."
Washington also criticized the Palestinian leadership's actions in international forums, saying that they still oppose U.N. Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338, which are key to the peace process.
ALSO READ:
New Jersey under state of emergency as flash flood warning hits Mid-Atlantic and Northeast
What are Palestinian leaders doing that goes against past peace deals?
U.S. officials say that the PLO and the Palestinian Authority have not kept their promises to previous administrations, especially those to stop inciting violence and avoid actions that make the Israeli-Palestinian conflict more international.
The U.S. also said that government-funded media and educational materials are still being used to brainwash people and glorify terrorist acts. Officials say that these things not only break promises of peace, but they also keep the cycle of violence going.
The State Department made it clear that the visa restrictions are only for people who either helped or encouraged these violations.
ALSO READ:
Ozzy Osbourne's burial site revealed — stunning lake and symbolic tribute break hearts
What does this mean for the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza?
The sanctions come at a time when the region is very unstable. According to sources in the region, the war in Gaza, which has been going on for almost 22 months, has killed more than 60,000 Palestinians. Israeli troops are still doing their jobs, but there have been more settlements and violent clashes in the West Bank.
Since the fighting started up again on October 7, 2023, reports say that nearly 1,000 Palestinians have died in the West Bank as a result of attacks by both Israeli settlers and the military.
Officials in the U.S. say that everyone involved in the region must be held responsible because so many lives are at stake. The State Department said, "It's in our national interest to punish the PLO and PA for not keeping their peace promises."
These new sanctions show that the U.S. is taking a tougher stance and putting more emphasis on peace based on accountability, openness, and a rejection of governance linked to terrorism.
FAQs
Why did the United States impose sanctions against the PLO and PA?
The United States cited support for terrorism, incitement in textbooks, and a failure to keep peace promises.
Who will be affected by visa sanctions?
The visa ban targets PLO members as well as Palestinian Authority officials.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
3 hours ago
- Mint
Norway's $1.9 trillion sovereign fund divests from Israeli companies amid backlash over Gaza humanitarian crisis
Norway's $1.9 trillion sovereign wealth fund, officially known as Norges Bank Investment Management (NBIM), has divested from 11 Israeli companies and is terminating all contracts with external managers in the country, due to immense public pressure over links to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Bloomberg reported on August 12. Notably, NBIM is the world's biggest sovereign wealth, and as such, backlash over the fund's investments in Israeli companies has grown due to allegations of genocide and war crimes by the IDF against civilians in Gaza. In a statement, the NBIM said that the fund held stock in some 61 Israeli companies till June 2025, with CEO Nicolai Tangen adding: 'We are taking these measures in a very special conflict situation.' He also described the situation in Gaza as 'a serious humanitarian crisis.' According to the BB report, Norway's sovereign fund is largely an index tracker, but has some room for active management. In its statement, NBIM said it will end all its active management in Israel — representing a fraction of the 0.1% of its total Israeli holdings — and that it has already sold all stocks in the 11 companies that are not part of the index. The fund also said it will remain invested in some but not all of the Israeli companies in the index. NBIM — which owns about 1.5 per cent of the world's stocks — has long sought to remain apolitical, though its mandate includes guidelines set by parliament that reflect broadly held public views on issues ranging from land mines to climate change. It is advised by an external ethics council, which assesses the portfolio on an ongoing basis and recommends companies for exclusion or observation. Still, NBIM's position as the world's biggest sovereign wealth fund has drawn the attention of politicians and activists. In 2022, the fund decided to freeze and sell its Russian holdings in response to Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Later that year, a government-appointed panel warned that the fund was likely to face increasingly challenging moral dilemmas. In a recent poll, 78 per cent of respondents said they wanted NBIM to exclude companies that do not respect human rights. The fund has previously excluded 11 companies due to their activities in the West Bank. Norway recognized Palestinian statehood in May last year, and has repeatedly called for Israel to let more humanitarian aid into Gaza. Finance minister Jens Stoltenberg ordered a review of all Israeli investments last week after the newspaper Aftenposten reported that one of the fund's holdings, Bet Shemesh Engines, services fighter jets used to attack Gaza. NBIM first bought a 1.3 per cent holding in Bet Shemesh Engines in 2023, and increased its position to 2.1 per cent last year, according to its website. The debate over the fund's holdings in Israel comes at a sensitive time for the ruling Labor Party in Norway, which is leading in opinion polls ahead of next month's parliamentary elections. The Labor Party has been critical of Israel's war, saying it violates international law. The Green Party, one of the smaller opposition forces, has called for the resignation of Tangen, the fund's CEO, and the Socialist Left has demanded a review of what the government knew about the investments. 'Because we are approaching an election, various parties are using this to advance their own interests and define themselves,' said Karin Thorburn, who teaches at the Norwegian School of Economics and the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Still, she said, 'no one wants the oil fund to become a political tool, because that creates a slippery slope.' (With inputs from Bloomberg)
News18
5 hours ago
- News18
‘Strongly Advocating For Delhi's Interests': Rekha Gupta Hails SC's Order On End-Of-Life Vehicles
Last Updated: Delhi CM Rekha Gupta welcomed the Supreme Court's order preventing immediate action against owners of end-of-life vehicles in Delhi-NCR. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday welcomed the Supreme Court's order that no coercive action would be taken against owners of end-of-life vehicles, saying that the top court has accepted the government's request. In a post on X, the Chief Minister congratulated the people of the national capital and asserted that no immediate punitive action will be taken against owners of diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years in the National Capital Region (NCR). 'Heartfelt congratulations to the people of Delhi! The Honorable Supreme Court has accepted our government's request. Now, no immediate punitive action will be taken against owners of diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years in the National Capital Region (NCR)," she said in a post on X. Gupta further said that the Delhi government had petitioned the top court to review the ban on end-of-life vehicles, arguing it unfairly impacts the middle class without scientific backing. 'Through a review petition, we had urged that vehicles should not be evaluated solely based on their age but rather on their mileage and emission levels, so that only vehicles actually contributing to pollution are identified and acted upon. We will continue to actively participate in the judicial process, strongly advocating for the interests of Delhi's residents," she added. Earlier today, the Supreme Court said that no coercive action will be taken against owners of 10-year-old diesel vehicles and 15-year-old petrol vehicles in Delhi and NCR. A bench of Chief Justice BR Gavai and Justices K Vinod Chandran and NV Anjaria issued the order after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Delhi government, requested relief for vehicle owners. 'Issue notice, returnable in four weeks. In the meantime, we direct that no coercive steps be taken against the owners on the ground that vehicles are 10 years old in respect of diesel vehicles and 15 years old in respect of petrol vehicles," the bench stated. About the Author First Published: Latest News Telangana CM calls for boost to ecotourism Agency feeds Agency feeds Israeli PM in denial about Gaza crisis, claims Australian PM Anthony Albanese Agency feeds Mathura: Farmer set on fire over encroached hut dies of burns Agency feeds Punjab CM Mann offers prayers at Kali temple in Patiala Agency feeds UP: Woman kills self by consuming poison over husbands alcohol addiction latest news
NDTV
18 hours ago
- NDTV
Norway's $1.9 Trillion Wealth Fund Sells Off Israeli Assets
Norway's $1.9 trillion sovereign wealth fund has divested from 11 Israeli companies and is terminating all contracts with external managers in Israel following public outcry over its investments linked to the war in Gaza. Pressure on Norges Bank Investment Management - the official name of the fund - has grown in recent months, reflecting domestic concern over the suffering in the Palestinian enclave. The fund held stock in some 61 Israeli companies as of the end of June this year, NBIM said in a statement. "We are taking these measures in a very special conflict situation," NBIM Chief Executive Officer Nicolai Tangen said, describing what's happening in Gaza as "a serious humanitarian crisis." The move follows a finance ministry review of the NBIM's holdings in Israel. The fund is largely an index tracker, but with some room for active management. NBIM said it will end all its active management in Israel. Its total holdings in the country represent 0.1% of the fund, or about $2 billion before the divestment. It has already sold all stocks in the 11 companies that are not part of the index. The fund also said it will remain invested in some but not all of the Israeli companies in the index. NBIM - which owns about 1.5% of the world's stocks - has long sought to remain apolitical, though its mandate includes guidelines set by parliament that reflect broadly held public views on issues ranging from land mines to climate change. It is advised by an external ethics council, which assesses the portfolio on an ongoing basis and recommends companies for exclusion or observation. Still, NBIM's position as the world's biggest sovereign wealth fund has drawn the attention of politicians and activists. In 2022, the fund decided to freeze and sell its Russian holdings in response to Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Later that year, a government-appointed panel warned that the fund was likely to face increasingly challenging moral dilemmas. In a recent poll, 78% of respondents said they wanted NBIM to exclude companies that do not respect human rights. The fund has previously excluded 11 companies due to their activities in the West Bank. Norway recognised Palestinian statehood in May last year, and has repeatedly called for Israel to let more humanitarian aid into Gaza. Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg ordered a review of all Israeli investments last week after the newspaper Aftenposten reported that one of the fund's holdings, Bet Shemesh Engines, services fighter jets used to attack Gaza. NBIM first bought a 1.3% holding in Bet Shemesh Engines in 2023, and increased its position to 2.1% last year, according to its website. "The decisive factor is not really whether they are Israeli or not," Stoltenberg told reporters in Oslo on Monday. "The decisive factor is whether or not they contribute to violations of international law." The debate over the fund's holdings in Israel comes at a sensitive time for the ruling Labor Party, which is leading in opinion polls ahead of next month's parliamentary elections. The Labor Party has been critical of Israel's war, saying it violates international law. The Green Party, one of the smaller opposition forces, has called for the resignation of Tangen, the fund's CEO, and the Socialist Left has demanded a review of what the government knew about the investments. "Because we are approaching an election, various parties are using this to advance their own interests and define themselves," said Karin Thorburn, who teaches at the Norwegian School of Economics and the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Still, she said, "no one wants the oil fund to become a political tool, because that creates a slippery slope."
