The U.S. on Thursday announced sanctions on officials from the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), claiming they are obstructing peace efforts with Israel, even as other Western powers advanced toward recognizing Palestinian statehood.
The State Department said it would deny visas for travel to the U.S. by those it was targeting, although it did not name any specific individuals.
"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," the State Department said in a statement.
It claimed the two Palestinian organizations had "taken actions to internationalize" their conflict with Israel, including through the International Criminal Court, and said both had continued "to support terrorism."
The PA and PLO serve as representatives for the Palestinian people and have long pushed for recognition of a Palestinian state by international organizations and foreign nations.
