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U.S. Imposes - then Waves - Travel Bans on PA Leaders
(AP) Matthew Lee - On Dec. 22, Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman notified Congress that she had imposed travel bans on senior leaders of the Palestinian Authority and Palestine Liberation Organization because they "are not in compliance" with requirements to tamp down and publicly condemn terrorist attacks against Israelis. But, in the same notification, the State Department said Sherman had waived the travel bans "based on her determination that such a waiver is in the national security interests of the United States." "An enduring and comprehensive peace between Israel and the Palestinians remains a longstanding goal of U.S. foreign policy. A blanket denial of visas to PLO members and PA officials, to include those whose travel to the United States is to advance U.S. goals and objectives, is not consistent with the U.S. government's expressed willingness to partner with the PLO and PA leadership."