The United States has sanctioned members of the Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) by denying them visas for travel to the country, the State Department said on July 31.
The Palestinian Authority is the governing body that administers part of the West Bank, while the PLO is internationally recognized as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people.
In 1987, Congress passed the Anti-Terrorism Act, which classified the PLO as a terrorist organization and restricted its activities in the United States. U.S. presidents since the late 1980s have issued waivers at their discretion to allow for diplomatic engagement.
Two laws, the PLO Commitments Compliance Act of 1989 (PLOCCA) and the Middle East Peace Commitments Act of 2002 (MEPCA), set conditions for such engagement….