Does America Support Palestine?

The Decades of Nuanced Relations Between Palestine and the United States The political relations between the State of Palestine and the Unit...

The Decades of Nuanced Relations Between Palestine and the United States

The political relations between the State of Palestine and the United States have been intricate and occasionally strained since the 1960s. While the United States does not officially recognize the State of Palestine, it acknowledges the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) as the legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. This recognition was solidified following the Oslo Accords when the United States also acknowledged the Palestinian National Authority as the legitimate governing body for the Palestinian territories.

Due to its non-recognition of Palestine, the United States does not maintain any official diplomatic offices in the Palestinian territories, and it does not offer consular services to Palestinians. Since the closure of the PLO mission in Washington, D.C., in October 2018, Palestinians have had no diplomatic representation in the United States. Instead, the U.S. established a "Palestinian Affairs Unit" within its embassy to Israel in Jerusalem to handle relations with the Palestinian National Authority, but it's worth noting that Palestine has chosen a policy of non-cooperation with this office and with the U.S. in general. In June 2022, the "Palestinian Affairs Unit" was rebranded as the "United States Office of Palestinian Affairs," reporting directly to Washington on substantive matters.

Since around 2011, the PLO's diplomatic focus has centered on the "Palestine 194" campaign, which aims to secure full membership for Palestine in the United Nations (UN). The State of Palestine officially seeks international recognition based on the pre-1967 borders of Israel, with East Jerusalem as its capital. The U.S. has set certain conditions for establishing diplomatic relations with Palestine, including the acceptance of UN Security Council Resolution 242, UN Security Council Resolution 338, recognizing Israel's right to exist, and renouncing terrorism.

Historical Context:

The PLO, established in 1964, initially did not receive any official recognition from the U.S. government. However, an unofficial PLO Information Office was allowed to operate in New York in 1964. It was headed by Sadat Hassan, who served as Yemen's Permanent Representative to the United Nations. This office was active until 1968 when it was closed.

In 1978, the PLO was permitted to open the Palestine Information Office (PIO) in Washington, D.C., which was registered with the Justice Department as a foreign agent. However, the Anti-Terrorism Act adopted by the United States Congress in 1987 declared the PLO a terrorist organization, leading to the closure of the PIO. Despite legal appeals, it remained closed.

In 1988, a presidential waiver was issued to allow contact with the PLO. A PLO office was reopened in 1989 as the Palestine Affairs Center, and in 1994, after the establishment of the Palestinian National Authority, the PLO office was renamed the PLO Mission to the United States.

In July 2010, the U.S. Department of State upgraded the status of the PLO Mission in the United States to the "General Delegation of the PLO." However, this office was closed in October 2018.

Before the 1973 Yom Kippur War, the U.S. government considered the PLO and Fatah, led by Yasser Arafat, a terrorist organization and did not support PLO aspirations at the UN. This stance changed over time, with some circles within the State Department starting to view the Palestinian factor as important for brokering an Israeli-Jordanian agreement in the West Bank. The intelligence community also had clandestine contacts with the PLO.

Under President Jimmy Carter, the U.S. advocated for the creation of a Palestinian state, while under President Ronald Reagan, the Republican party platform rejected the involvement of the PLO and the establishment of a Palestinian state. Reagan also attempted to close down the Palestine Information Office, citing its involvement in terrorist activities.

Relations evolved further under subsequent administrations, with progress made during President Bill Clinton's tenure, who supported a Palestinian state but was cautious in expressing it publicly. Under President George W. Bush, there was a shift in approach, emphasizing support for a Palestinian state following negotiations. President Barack Obama was open to a Palestinian state and provided financial support to the Palestinian Authority.

The Trump administration took a different approach, aligning more closely with Israeli positions. This included the recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, leading to tensions with Palestine. The Trump administration also closed the PLO office in Washington, D.C.

Under the Biden administration, there has been an effort to restore relations with Palestine and provide aid to Palestinians. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced the reopening of the U.S. consulate in Jerusalem.

These changing dynamics in U.S.-Palestinian relations have been shaped by the policies and preferences of successive U.S. administrations, as well as the evolving regional context.

The current Biden administration faces the challenge of dealing with a complex diplomatic situation amid escalating violence in the region.