What triggered the US sanctions on the PLO/PA? ~ Elder Of Ziyon

Friday, August 01, 2025

What triggered the US sanctions on the PLO/PA?

Yesterday, the State Department issued a notice sanctioning members of the PLO and PA:

The State Department has reported to Congress that the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and Palestinian Authority (PA) are not in compliance with their commitments under the PLO Commitments Compliance Act of 1989 (PLOCCA) and the Middle East Peace Commitments Act of 2002 (MEPCA), including by initiating and supporting actions at international organizations that undermine and contradict prior commitments in support of Security Council Resolution 242 and 338, taking actions to internationalize its conflict with Israel such as through the International Criminal Court (ICC) and International Court of Justice (ICJ), continuing to support terrorism including incitement and glorification of violence (especially in textbooks), and providing payments and benefits in support of terrorism to Palestinian terrorists and their families. The United States is imposing sanctions that deny visas to PLO members and PA officials in accordance with section 604(a)(1) of the MEPCA.  It is in our national security interests to impose consequences and hold the PLO and PA accountable for not complying with their commitments and undermining the prospects for peace.

Here is what section 604(a)(1) of the MEPCA says (it was not easy to find):

(a) IN GENERAL.—If, in any report transmitted pursuant to section 603, the President determines that the PLO or the Palestinian Authority, as appropriate, has not complied with each of the commitments specified in section 602(1), or if the President fails to make a determination with respect to such compliance, the President shall, for a period of time not less than the period described in subsection (b), impose one or more of the following sanctions...

(1) DENIAL OF VISAS TO PLO AND PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY OFFICIALS.—The Secretary shall direct consular officers not to issue a visa to any member of the PLO or any official of the Palestinian Authority

602(1) says:

SEC. 602. FINDINGS. Congress makes the following findings:
(1) In 1993, the Palestine Liberation Organization (in this subtitle referred to as the ‘‘PLO’’) made the following commitments in an exchange of letters with the Prime Minister of Israel: (A) Recognition of the right of the State of Israel to exist in peace and security. (B) Acceptance of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338. (C) Resolution of all outstanding issues in the conflict between the two sides through negotiations and exclusively peaceful means. (D) Renunciation of the use of terrorism and all other acts of violence and responsibility over all PLO elements and personnel in order to assure their compliance, prevent violations, and discipline violators.

The sanctions notice doesn't go into details of how it believes the PLO is violating UNSC 242, but my guess is:

Termination of all claims or states of belligerency and respect for and acknowledgement of the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of every State in the area and their right to live in peace within secure and recognized boundaries free from threats or acts of force.

But clearly the PLO and PA have been in violation of (C) "Resolution of all outstanding issues in the conflict between the two sides through negotiations and exclusively peaceful means" because the PLO uses international courts and diplomacy to pressure Israel outside negotiations.

And also clearly the PLO has been violating (D) "Renunciation of the use of terrorism and all other acts of violence and responsibility over all PLO elements and personnel" as PA police have been involved in terror attacks and they are treated as heroes, not lawbreakers.

I'm not sure this is a slam dunk - the PLO can claim that they are compliant and they might find people who believe them - but this set of sanctions certainly is supportable under the provisions of MEPCA 604(a)(1).