(RNS) — Eight U.S. Jewish organizations have written a letter to President Donald Trump urging him to rescind the most recent travel ban, especially its restriction on Palestinians with documents issued by the Palestinian Authority.
The new ban, which Trump issued on Dec. 16, blocks travel to the U.S. for people from Syria, South Sudan, Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, as well as people traveling with Palestinian Authority documents — essentially, most Palestinians in the West Bank.
More than 35 countries are now under U.S. travel restrictions. American Jewish groups committed to an Israeli-Palestinian peace settlement are particularly concerned that banning Palestinians from the country might undermine the United States’ role as peacemaker.
“Your administration has publicly asserted an interest in stabilizing the Gaza ceasefire and preventing a return to widespread violence, yet this policy moves in the opposite direction,” the letter says. “By further restricting Palestinian travel and engagement, the proclamation weakens and delegitimizes the Palestinian Authority at a moment when its credibility, capacity, and international support are essential.”
The letter was written by the group New Jewish Narrative and co-signed by Bend the Arc: Jewish Action, J Street, the National Council of Jewish Women, the New York Jewish Agenda, Partners for Progressive Israel, T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights and The Workers Circle.
Palestinians living in the West Bank can access Palestinian Author …