Visa denials, Palestinian statehood and the legal limits of diplomacy take center stage in this episode of “Basic Law,” hosted by Aylana Meisel, executive director of the Israel Law & Liberty Forum.
As the United Nations General Assembly opens in New York, the global push to recognize a Palestinian state reaches a tipping point, with major Western powers like France, Britain and Canada endorsing unilateral recognition. But the United States has pushed back on national security grounds, most notably by denying visas to more than 80 Palestinian Authority officials, including its leader, Mahmoud Abbas.
Joining the episode to help us better understand the legal, diplomatic and historical dimensions of this high-stakes moment is Judge Abraham D. Sofaer, former U.S. District Court Judge and former legal adviser to the U.S. State Department. Together, Meisel and Sofaer explore the legal authority behind America’s actions; the legacy of prior visa denials (including the pivotal refusal of entry to Yasser Arafat); and how international agreements like the U.N. Headquarters Agreement intersect with U.S. sovereignty and congressional mandates.
The discussion ranges from the P.A.’s ongoing payments to terrorists and its failure to recognize Israel’s right to exist, to the deeper question of whether the two-state solution is still viable in the eyes of Israelis and Americans alike.
Sofaer, drawing on decades of diplomatic experience, shares critical insights on the erosion of Palestinian leverage, the dangers of European appeasement and why the United States must hold the P.A. accountable while safeguarding Israel’s security.
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The Israel Law & Liberty Forum is proud to partner with JNS to offer a platform for conservative and classical liberal legal thought from within Israel. Any opinions stated are those of the speaker and not meant to represent the positions of the forum or JNS. The forum is an organization that fosters thoughtful conversation and debate on key issues in Israeli law and democracy. The forum takes no official position regarding any specific policy issue, nor does it advance specific policies.
