Trump administration suspends visas for almost all Palestinians with passports

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00:00The Trump administration, in what some are calling an open-ended refusal or ban,

00:05is suspending the approval of almost every type of visitor visa for Palestinians

00:09who have a passport and hope to come to the United States.

00:15The New York Times reports the new restrictions include passports acquired to enable medical

00:20treatment, study at American universities, or to visit family and friends, plus business travel

00:26and tourism. The State Department reportedly has sent the message to all U.S. embassies and

00:31consulates. Just last week, the U.S. announced it would also not issue visas to Palestinian officials

00:37who plan to attend the U.N. General Assembly in New York in a few weeks. It's said that

00:42Secretary of State Marco Rubio was implementing this to hold the Palestinian Authority and the

00:47Palestine Liberation Organization accountable for not complying with their commitments and for

00:53undermining the prospects for peace. Among those whose passport is affected is Palestinian

00:59Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. The latest diplomatic developments come at a time when

01:04the Palestinian Authority has praised plans by certain Western countries, including Canada and

01:09France, for supporting the creation of a Palestinian state in the Middle East. Israel has strongly rejected

01:16that possibility, and the U.S. has been Israel's loyal ally in its ongoing war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

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