Biden Pledge to Reopen PLO Mission in Washington Faces Legal Hurdles

(Reuters) Rami Ayyub - President Biden's plan to reopen the Palestinian diplomatic mission in Washington could be held up over a law that exposes Palestinian officials to U.S. anti-terror lawsuits, officials say. Under an anti-terror amendment passed by Congress and signed into law in 2019, the Palestinians would become liable for $655.5 million in financial penalties against them in U.S. courts if they open an office in the U.S. Moreover, the Taylor Force Act, passed by Congress in 2018, restricts some aid until the Palestinians end payments to people jailed by Israel over violent crimes. While Biden can reverse some measures through executive orders, others involve laws passed by Congress and are not as easily changed. A U.S. State Department official told Reuters: "In administering aid, the Biden-Harris Administration will fully comply with U.S. law including the Taylor Force Act."


2021-02-01 00:00:00

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