US sanctions and revokes visas for PLO leaders over UN moves, amid ongoing tensions over Palestinian statehood efforts.
Palestinian leaders are progressing with plans to formalize statehood through a constitutional draft, including upcoming elections for the PLO and local bodies. The move aims to bolster legitimacy but faces opposition from Israel, which may block referendums and elections. The process reflects internal reforms and political tensions.
On February 27, 2026, the US Embassy in Jerusalem began providing passport services in Efrat, an Israeli settlement in the West Bank, marking the first time consular services were offered in an Israeli settlement. The move has sparked controversy, with Israeli officials welcoming it as legitimizing settlements, while Palestinians and international actors condemn it as violating international law.
The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has reinstated a decade-old judgment allowing victims of attacks linked to the Palestinian Authority and PLO to pursue lawsuits in U.S. courts. The decision follows a Supreme Court ruling last June supporting a 2019 law enabling these cases to proceed. The victims have waited over 22 years for justice.